UWM’s Senior Satisfaction Survey Shows Students Are Not Happy With Diversity on Campus

Based on survey information from 2019, UWM students believe more can be done to achieve diversity on campus. 

UWM ranks slightly above average, coming in at number 794 when it comes to racial diversity and representation at a national level, according to College Factual statistics. 

“I think UWM has what it takes to make students of color feel welcomed,” said Marques Alton, UWM alumnus.  “The issue is providing the proper resources to get them enrolled and on campus.”

At the end of each academic year, UWM sends out a survey to recently graduated seniors.  Known as the senior satisfaction survey, the data provides a report and assessment for institutional research. 

The survey can be found here. 

“I graduate this summer and I’d be open to providing my opinion on campus life,” said Makaya Jenkins, 21. “I wouldn’t say I’ve had a negative experience here at UWM but I wish it were more diverse.”

One section of the Senior Satisfaction Survey asks students to rate their experience of interacting with people from different races, nationalities and backgrounds. Students are given the option of selecting excellent, good, fair or poor.

Seven point two percent of Black students chose the option “poor” on this question about diversity. Whereas just 0.6 percent of white students selected “poor,” according to the UWM Senior Survey of 2019.

“I personally think white students are less likely to notice diversity or have as much personal concern about it,” said Jenkins. “As a Black person, I am likely to look around for people who look like me and sometimes that’s hard to find.”

 As of 2019, 67.4 percent of UWM undergraduates are white while just 6.9 percent are Black, according to College Factual statistics.

“If I were to answer that survey question I wouldn’t say UWM is poor when it comes to diversity,” said Jenkins. “I’d probably rate it fair to good for the most part.”

UWM offers over 20 clubs and organizations designed for minority students to connect and seek assistance. Such as, African American Student Academic Services, American Indian Student Services, Asian Student Union, Korean Student Association and many more.

“I transferred from a small liberal arts college that was super white, probably more than 80 percent, and coming to UWM was refreshing,” said Bailey Rose, UWM student. “There’s a lot more diversity here than there was there, but that’s not saying much.”

As a white student, Bailey Rose took notice of the lack of diversity at UWM.

“I found it particularly difficult to find any sense of community at UWM,” said Rose.

UWM promotes diversity and encourages students to get to know someone different than them, according to UWM’s diversity web page.

“My freshman year at UWM I was hopeful that I would fit in and find a new friend group,” said Marques Alton.  “However, after spending some time on campus I struggled to make connections and feel like I fit in.” 

When students were asked to rate student union programs and services just 14.49% of Black students selected “excellent” and 17% of white students chose “excellent,” according to the 2019 Senior Satisfaction Survey. 

“I’m a first generation college student and being Black I sometimes felt like I didn’t belong,” said Alton. “It’s difficult to escape that feeling. I think UWM could do more to encourage minority students to attend. I would say the main issue is that there aren’t enough students of color here at UWM.”

Alton believes more minority based clubs and engagements could expand diversity on campus.

“It’s a big school with a lot of commuters,” said Ethan Duran, UWM alumnus. “You have a lot of perfect strangers around each other not really interacting.”

Duran rides the city bus around the Milwaukee area and often struggles to find any UWM ads on billboards or near shelters.

“They could and they should encourage more students of color to enroll,” said Duran.

Milwaukee is known for being an urban city with a great deal of racial diversity, encouraging and supporting more individuals to attend UWM is where many students feel the campus falls short.

Reducing tuition, providing more scholarships, expanding community outreach and advertising in inner cities are some things students feel would improve diversity at UWM.