Understanding Multiracial Student Data: Recommendations for Data Collection and Reporting

Session Abstract: As the multiracial population grows at a rapid pace in the United States, it is important for higher education institutions to leverage data to better understand the experiences of multiracial students. However, data on multiracial students in higher education remain limited, often grouping these students into a broad “catch-all” category that obscures their unique experiences. Recent updates to federal race and ethnicity standards (Statistical Policy Directive No.15) from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), provide a pivotal moment to better understand and represent multiracial students in higher education. This IHEP-led presentation will focus on (1) an overview of the new federal race and ethnicity standards and its impacts for multiracial students; (2) a review of current data availability on multiracial students, and recommendations and considerations for data users; and (3) strategies for institutions to harness these data to inform policy and practice.

Keywords: multiracial students, data disaggregation, data reporting, race and ethnicity data, student success