Diversity and Inclusion Master Plan

Figure 4. Total Number of Practicing Optometrists Nationwide and in NYC by Race

Clearly, neither the national nor the New York State numbers of optometrists reflect the ethnic diversity of NYS and that of overall nationwide population. This is an issue that SUNY Optometry considers of key importance. Despite the challenges, the College remains committed to its goal to attract and retain a multi-ethnic student body, one that reflects the diversity of NYS and the pool of students applying to optometry schools across the nation.

Student profile

ASCO issues a yearly report (Table 1) with enrollment data reported by the 21 schools of optometry in the United States and Puerto Rico (for the purposes of this report, Puerto Rico was excluded from the analysis) 4 . In the 2015-2016 academic year, there were 6,667 students enrolled in professional O.D. programs in the U.S. The enrollment percentage at SUNY represented 5.5% of the total national enrollment (364 students). The national overall percentage of female students was 67% compared to 73.6% at SUNY. The overall percentage of students identified as Black or African American was 2.6% (176), compared to 1.9% at SUNY; 5.2% were Hispanics compared to 3% at SUNY; 28.1% were Asian, compared to 37.9% at SUNY; 55% were White, compared to 45.3% at SUNY; 2.2% were Two or More races, compared to 4.7% at SUNY; and 0.6% and 0.2% were American Indian or Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian, respectively, compared to 0% and 0.3% at SUNY.

In summary, in 2015- 16, the College’s student body profile was 73. 6% female, with 47.8% minority (race/ethnicity other than White) and 4.9% underrepresented minority students.

Table 1. Gender and Race/Ethnicity of Students Enrolled in Optometry School

Race/Ethnicity

Gender

All Schools

%

SUNY

%

Male

50

0.7% 1.9% 2.6% 1.8% 3.3% 5.2% 0.1% 0.4% 0.6% 6.8% 21.3% 28.1% 0.0% 0.1% 0.2% 21.1% 33.9%

2 5 7

0.5% 1.4% 1.9% 0.3% 2.7% 3.0% 0.0% 0.0% 0.0%

Female

126

Black or African American

Total

176

Male

123 221 344

1

Female

10

Hispanic or Latino

Total

11

Male

10 30

0 0 0

Female

American Indian or Alaska Native

Total

40

Male

451

37

10.2% 27.7% 37.9%

Female

1,423 1,874

101

Asian

Total

138

Male

3 9

0

0.0% 0.3% 0.3%

Female

1 1

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Total

12

Male

1,406 2,263

45

12.4% 33.0%

White

Female

120

4 ASCO (2016). Annual Student Data Report: Academic Year 2015-2016. Retrieved from http://www.opted.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ASCO-Student- Data-Report-2015-2016-8-30-16.pdf; There are presently 23 schools of optometry recognized by ASCO. The Chicago College of Optometry and University of Pikeville just recently opened and were not included in this report.

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