Linfield College No. 1 in Pacific Northwest for ethnic diversity

MCMINNVILLE, Ore., Sept. 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second year in a row, Linfield College is tied for the No. 1 spot among Pacific Northwest liberal arts colleges for "Best Ethnic Diversity," according to the 2018 U.S. News and World Report list released today.  

The magazine uses a formula to create a diversity index based on the proportion of students of color to the overall mix of the student population. Nationally, Linfield is 34^th among liberal arts schools on the list.

"Linfield is far more diverse than people give us credit for," said Scott Bernard Nelson, college spokesman. "We are proud of the diversity on our campuses, and happy to be recognized for it."

Linfield has seen significant growth among students of color in the past few years. The fall 2017 incoming class is more than one-third American students of color, as is the overall student body.  

"Reaching this point did not happen overnight," says Gerardo Ochoa, Linfield's assistant dean of Diversity and Community Partnerships. "Over the years, many faculty, students and staff have dedicated tremendous effort to be a more diverse and inclusive campus. While we have made great strides, we know we have much more work to do, but we're up to it; it's a commitment we make to our students."

This fall, Linfield offered a Spanish-language orientation program for new students and their families for the third consecutive year. Last year, Linfield opened up new multicultural centers on both its McMinnville and Portland campuses and, in May, held its first Latinx Senior Recognition ceremony for graduating students.  

The U.S. News and World Report list was released as part of the overall "Best Colleges" ranking, where Linfield was once again ranked in the top tier of national liberal arts colleges. Linfield jumped 11 spots, to #117, its highest rating since 2010.  

SOURCE Linfield College