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The percentage of Hispanic, Black and Asian students at Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) increased in 2020, according to recently released data from the University System of Georgia.

GGC’s percentage of Hispanic students rose to 25%, with Black and Asian students rising to 33% and 11% respectively.

“Our student body is reflective of the demographics of Gwinnett and its neighboring counties,” said GGC President Jann Joseph. “For the seventh year in a row U.S. News and World Report recognized GGC as the most ethnically diverse college in the Southern regional college category. This rich diversity is what makes our institution unique and supports our culture of inclusion.”

While 2020 fall enrollment is down to 11,627, the 9% decrease from 2019 followed a 14% spike in summer enrollment, GGC’s highest summer enrollment increase in the college’s 15-year history. Joseph attributes the dip in enrollment to a number of factors, most notably the inability to conduct in-person recruitment, which, for most colleges and universities, has been hampered by the global pandemic.

“When we’re able to engage students and their families in-person and show off our beautiful campus and facilities, students tend to enroll,” she explained. 

Joseph predicts an uptick in enrollment with the recently redesigned Grizzly Welcome Center and resumed on-campus recruitment events, which adhere to CDC guidelines. 

“We will remain diligent in our recruitment efforts to bring students to GGC,” said Joseph. “Our students need us to engage fully with them, whether in the classroom, as they move around campus or work online,” she said. “We can be that source of support and encouragement in the chaotic season we find ourselves in these days.”

Full race/ethnicity data*, provided by the USG Semester Enrollment Report for fall 2020 reflect the following:

Asian – 1,297 or 11%
Black/African American – 3,786 or 33%
Hispanic – 2,882 or 25%
Native American – 16 or 0.1%
Pacific Islander – 23 or 0.2%
White – 3,105 or 27%
Multi-ethnic – 438 or 4%
Unknown/undeclared – 80 or 1%

*Statistics include rounded data.