1. Defining “Two or More Races”: A Turbulent Journey
Robbie Janik - Assistant Director, Survey Research and Evaluation
Averie Hamilton - Graduate Assistant, SRE
Institutional Research and Decision Support

2. Race phenotype socially constructed Fluid concept
a category of humankind that shares certain distinctive physical traits
socially constructed
a class or kind of people unified by shared interests, habits, or characteristics
Fluid concept
Consequentially, accurately counting the multiple race population is a complex exercise (Jones & Bullock, 2013).
So what is race? Depends on who you ask.
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

3. Race cont.
Expressed racial identities- the words and actions (e.g., races reported on official documents) that convey beliefs about an individual’s race (Harris & Sims, 2002)
For simplicity sake, we will view race in our paper and presentation as outlined above
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

4. “Two or More Races” IPEDS U.S. 2000 Census IUPUI
Allowed individuals to self-identify with more than one race
U.S Census
By 2010, all institutions were required to report using new race categories
IPEDS
In 2010, began using the “Two or More Races” category in reporting
IUPUI
no longer forced to report monoracially
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

5. U.S. “Two or More Races” Overall1 (18-24 year olds)2 2000: 2.4%
2010: 2.9%
(18-24 year olds)2
2014: 3.6%
1Jone & Bullock (2013)
2American Community Survey
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

6. Gaps in the Literature
Few have looked at statistical composition of “Two or More”
Even fewer have examined changes in “Two or More” over time
No published studies look at “Two or More” composition or behaviors in an institutional context
So we did!
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

7. Fall Undergraduate Enrollment
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Black / African American
2,312 (10%)
2,363 (11%)
2,411 (11%)
2,379 (11%)
2,352 (10%)
2,159 (10%)
Asian American
708 (3%)
690 (3%)
735 (3%)
803 (4%)
804 (4%)
824 (4%)
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
14 (<1%)
12 (<1%)
9 (<1%)
21 (<1%)
18 (<1%)
20 (<1%)
Hispanic / Latino
777 (4%)
895 (4%)
1,076 (5%)
1,181 (5%)
1,269 (6%)
1,349 (6%)
American Indian / Alaska Native
49 (<1%)
40 (<1%)
28 (<1%)
34 (<1%)
30 (<1%)
Two or more races
340 (2%)
498 (2%)
692 (3%)
720 (3%)
796 (3%)
847 (4%)
International
643 (3%)
629 (3%)
684 (3%)
786 (3%)
882 (4%)
881 (4%)
White
16,906 (76%)
16,719 (75%)
16,278 (73%)
16,178 (72%)
16,148 (72%)
15,709 (71%)
Unknown
496 (2%)
390 (2%)
358 (2%)
311 (2%)
226 (1%)
175 (1%)
Total Student Headcount
22,245
22,236
22,271
22,409
22,525
21,985
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

8. First Time Fall Beginners
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Black / African American
285 (10%)
320 (10%)
312 (9%)
323 (9%)
309 (8%)
268 (7%)
Asian American
89 (3%)
88 (3%)
127 (4%)
153 (4%)
141 (3%)
145 (4%)
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
3 (<1%)
1 (<1%)
0 (<1%)
2 (<1%)
Hispanic / Latino
119 (4%)
179 (6%)
237 (7%)
290 (8%)
265 (7%)
295 (8%)
American Indian / Alaska Native
2 (0%)
9 (<1%)
Two or more races
105 (4%)
121 (4%)
183 (5%)
159 (4%)
205 (5%)
International
70 (2%)
97 (3%)
113 (3%)
107 (3%)
114 (3%)
White
2,222 (76%)
2,226 (73%)
2,323 (69%)
2,710 (71%)
2,960 (75%)
2,878 (73%)
Unknown
31 (1%)
25 (1%)
48 (1%)
36 (1%)
197 (<1%)
18 (<1%)
Total Student Headcount
2,925
3,059
3,359
3,795
3,949
3,929
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

9. Two or More Breakdown 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 White and Black
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
White and Black
90 (27%)
144 (29%)
205 (30%)
223 (31%)
261 (33%)
310 (36%)
White and Asian
82 (24%)
114 (23%)
203 (29%)
196 (27%)
212 (27%)
212 (25%)
White and American Indian/AK Native
83 (24%)
119 (24%)
130 (19%)
127 (18%)
137 (17%)
132 (16%)
White, Black, American Indian/AK Native
13 (4%)
19 (4%)
32 (5%)
34 (5%)
39 (5%)
34 (4%)
Black & American Indian/AK Native
20 (6%)
27 (5%)
23 (3%)
21 (3%)
26 (3%)
Asian and Native Hawaiian
15 (4%)
19 (3%)
31 (4%)
40 (5%)
Black & Asian
8 (2%)
11 (2%)
20 (3%)
White, Asian, Native Hawaiian
9 (3%)
14 (3%)
22 (3%)
18 (2%)
19 (2%)
Total 2 Races Selected
309 (91%)
450 (90%)
614 (89%)
635 (88%)
714 (90%)
764 (90%)
Total 3 Races Selected
27 (8%)
42 (8%)
70 (10%)
76 (11%)
73 (9%)
74 (9%)
All Two or More
340
498
692
720
796
847
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

10. Two or More Breakdown 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 White and Black
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
White and Black
90 (27%)
144 (29%)
205 (30%)
223 (31%)
261 (33%)
310 (36%)
White and Asian
82 (24%)
114 (23%)
203 (29%)
196 (27%)
212 (27%)
212 (25%)
White and American Indian/AK Native
83 (24%)
119 (24%)
130 (19%)
127 (18%)
137 (17%)
132 (16%)
Total
75%
76%
78%
77%
White, Black, American Indian/AK Native
13 (4%)
19 (4%)
32 (5%)
34 (5%)
39 (5%)
34 (4%)
Black & American Indian/AK Native
20 (6%)
27 (5%)
23 (3%)
21 (3%)
26 (3%)
Asian and Native Hawaiian
15 (4%)
19 (3%)
31 (4%)
40 (5%)
Black & Asian
8 (2%)
11 (2%)
20 (3%)
White, Asian, Native Hawaiian
9 (3%)
14 (3%)
22 (3%)
18 (2%)
19 (2%)
Total 2 Races Selected
309 (91%)
450 (90%)
614 (89%)
635 (88%)
714 (90%)
764 (90%)
Total 3 Races Selected
27 (8%)
42 (8%)
70 (10%)
76 (11%)
73 (9%)
74 (9%)
All Two or More
340
498
692
720
796
847
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

11. One-Year Retention Rates by Race/Ethnicity
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Black / African American
65%
66%
63%
Asian American
91%
84%
85%
81%
82%
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander
2/3
1/1
2/2
5/7
Hispanic / Latino
72%
67%
73%
American Indian/Alaska Native
5/6
3/6
4/7
7/13
2/6
Two or more races
59%
62%
68%
International
78%
89%
87%
86%
White
70%
71%
Total
Includes First-time Beginner & Transfer Students
Includes Full-time & Part-time
Includes Bachelor & Associate Degree Seeking Students
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

12. One-Year Retention Rates by Race/Ethnicity
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Black / African American
65%
66%
63%
Asian American
91%
84%
85%
81%
82%
Hispanic / Latino
72%
67%
73%
Two or more races
59%
62%
68%
International
78%
89%
87%
86%
White
70%
71%
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

13. Two or More Races One-Year Retention Rates
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Overall
Black / African American
65%
66%
63%
White
70%
71%
73%
Two or More (Black/White)
51% (n=51)
68% (n=56)
53% (n=79)
61% (n=75)
63% (n=78)
59%
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

14. Two or More Races One-Year Retention Rates
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Overall
Asian
91%
84%
85%
81%
82%
White
70%
71%
73%
Two or More (Asian/White)
70% (n=30)
76% (n=33)
63% (n=94)
75% (n=52)
72% (n=53)
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

15. Two or More Races One-Year Retention Rates
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Overall
American Indian/Alaska Native
5/6
3/6
4/7
7/13
2/6
61%
White
70%
71%
73%
Two or More (American Indian/ AK Native/White)
57% (n=42)
76% (n=46)
63% (n=31)
75% (n=35)
72% (n=32)
62%
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

16. Two or More Races One-Year Retention Rates - Review
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Overall
Two or More (Asian/White)
70% (n=30)
76% (n=33)
63% (n=94)
75% (n=52)
72% (n=53)
70%
Two or More (Black/White)
51% (n=51)
68% (n=56)
53% (n=79)
61% (n=75)
63% (n=78)
59%
Two or More (American Indian/ Alaska Native/White)
57% (n=42)
76% (n=46)
63% (n=31)
75% (n=35)
72% (n=32)
62%
Two or More (Other combos)
62% (n=29)
71% (n=34)
75% (n=47)
69% (n=55)
64% (n=45)
69%
Two or More (All)
67%
68%
65%
64%
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

17. Latino(a) Students
Student automatically coded as Hispanic/Latino if that box is checked, even if identify with other races.
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
Only Latino(a)
68%
60%
56%
52%
48%
45%
Has at least 2 races checked including Latino(a)
32%
40%
44%
55%
All Latino(a) Undergraduates
777
895
1076
1181
1269
1349
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
White and Latino(a)
179 (72%)
263 (74%)
368 (77%)
438 (78%)
529 (80%)
613 (82%)
Black and Latino(a)
28 (11%)
41 (12%)
51 (11%)
56 (10%)
57 (9%)
52 (7%)
White, American Indian/AK Native, Latino(a)
13 (5%)
14 (4%)
13 (3%)
16 (3%)
14 (2%)
12 (2%)
White, Black, Latino(a)
6 (2%)
12 (3%)
18 (3%)
17 (3%)
21 (3%)
American Indian/AK Native and Latino(a)
11 (4%)
15 (4%)
11 (2%)
9 (2%)
15 (2%)
All “Two or More” Latino(a)
248
356
479
563
659
747
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

18. Latino(a) Students – One Year Retention Rates
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
Overall
Only Latino(a)
62% (n=101)
74% (n=148)
62% (n=174)
70% (n=198)
72% (n=163)
68%
White and Latino(a)
72% (n=57)
70% (n=82)
72% (n=120)
79% (n=151)
73% (n=160)
74%
Other two or more Latino(a)
61% (n=23)
70% (n=30)
77% (n=34)
67% (n=36)
71% (n=34)
69%
All Latino(a)
65%
72%
67%
73%
71%
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

19. Discussion: Rise in “Two or More”
U.S. Census 2000 and 2010: is the age group most likely to indicate “Two or More Races”
Our data also show a steady rise in the “Two or More”
Could communicate actual increase in mixed-race population
More likely attributable to:
Youth being raised in a society that increasingly espouses the virtues of diversity1
Youth make efforts to stress the legitimacy of multi-racial identity1
Age groups disagree about how recently mixed one must be to report being multiracial 2
1Harris & Sims, 2002
2 Nobles, 2000; OMB, 1997
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

20. Discussion Cont.
Disproves Hutnik’s 1986 theory- those belonging to like “Two or More Races” behave most like individuals from the high status, dominant majority group
Asian/white retention rates are closest to white
Black/African American/white rates are closest to Black/African American
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

21. Discussion Are all “two or more races” created equal?
Data demonstrates they behave differently (e.g., retention rates)
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS

22. Questions?
INDIANA UNIVERSITY–PURDUE UNIVERSITY INDIANAPOLIS