UMass Boston is known for its diverse student and faculty population. However, along with the other UMass campuses, UMass Boston has a number of programs in the works to further increase the percentage of students of color and minorities.

For a number of years, UMass Boston has continuously had the highest percentage of both students and faculty of color out of the entire five-campus system. Though numbers are high, the school has been working with kids through the Early Awareness Programs, as well as the available access programs.

The Early Awareness Programs consist of a variety of ways to encourage children to think about college at younger ages. Kids to College will begin with students in the sixth grade, and attempt to keep children interested in attending a university until they become eligible. “[We hope] to expose students to college and the opportunities available to them,” Vice Chancellor of University Enrollment Kathleen Teehan said.

Many students have plans of going away to school, but the application may scare them away. UMass Boston now offers Personalized Admission Services to help students through the application process. Counselors from UMass Boston visit high schools around Boston and the metro area to assist students with any questions about their applications, transcripts or references.

Also available, are Parent and Family Nights. Prospective students and family members from Boston Public Schools are encouraged to come to UMass Boston, where students will be able to prepare for college.

Students are split into two categories, those with a junior standing and those who are seniors. The juniors focus more on the preparations before applying for college, including financial aid. The seniors, already in the middle of their application process, will receive information more beneficial to their advanced status.

Leadership Days, which has recently seen increasing interest, brings groups of students from various high schools to spend the day at UMass Boston, or another available university of their choice. The days are customized depending upon the age group of the students.

UMass Boston also offers several access programs, the first of which is an Admission Guarantee Program. Ninth graders and above from Burke High School, South Boston High School and the Dorchester Education Complex have the opportunity for guaranteed admission to the university running the program, given that the students meet the designated admission requirements.

Students can also join the Direction for Student Potential. DSP is a program for students who meet some of the admissions requirements, but not all. Students are offered a free six-week session during the summer, where they have a chance to prove their potential. Students are able to register for classes once the session is over at the end of July.

UMass Boston displays advertisements for school events on a variety of public and ethnic medias. The school also currently has a yearly contract with the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, and posters are plastered throughout the various subway trains with the opportunity to reach thousands of people, and countless minorities.

“It is very important to have a presence in the urban community,” Teehan said, and with the new efforts to increase both general enrollment, as well as that of minorities, UMass Boston has continued to secure its position as UMass’ most diverse campus.