Asian Student Population At Indiana University: How Many?

Indiana University Bloomington has a large Asian student population. In 2022, 8.42% of the total student population was Asian, making it the third-largest ethnic group at the university. In 2023, 5.98% of graduate and professional students identified as Asian Americans. In 2019, there were 2,141 Asian American and Pacific Islander undergraduate students at the university. The university is also home to the Asian Culture Center, which aims to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures, history, and issues. The center is open to all students, regardless of their racial background, and serves as a space for students to study, socialise, and hang out.

In 2022, 8.42% of enrolled students at Indiana University were Asian

The Asian population at Indiana University has historically faced discrimination and negative stereotypes, such as the model minority myth, which assumes that Asian Americans are a "model minority" who are successful in various areas, including education. To combat these stereotypes and create a more welcoming environment, Asian American students at the university established the first Asian Culture Center (ACC) at a Midwest university in the 1990s. The ACC aims to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures, history, and issues. It provides a space for Asian American students to explore their identities, combat stereotypes, and engage with other diverse populations.

In recent years, there has been a shift in the international student population at Indiana University, with an increasing number of Indian students and a decreasing number of Chinese students. Despite this shift, Chinese students continue to play a significant part at the university, and the prestige of Western universities will likely continue to draw Chinese students who can afford the cost of studying in the United States.

Asian American students at Indiana University have also faced issues of racial violence and a lack of support from the school administration. After an incident in 2023, where an Asian American student was stabbed on a city transit bus, Asian American students expressed disappointment in the response from the school administration. They felt that more could be done to promote education and solidarity around Asian American issues and to ensure their safety.

There were 640 Asian American and Pacific Islander postgraduate students at Indiana University Bloomington in 2019

In 2019, there were 640 Asian American and Pacific Islander postgraduate students at Indiana University Bloomington. This is a significant number, considering the long history of Asian Americans facing discrimination and negative stereotypes in the United States.

Asian Americans have often been stereotyped as "foreigners" in the US, despite their long history in the country. This has contributed to a perception of Asian Americans as model minorities, achieving success across various areas of society. These stereotypes have led to discrimination and unwelcoming college campus environments for Asian American students.

To address these issues, Asian American students at Indiana University Bloomington established the first Asian Culture Center (ACC) at a Midwest university in the 1990s. The ACC aims to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures, history, and issues. It provides a space for Asian American students to explore their identities, combat stereotypes, and engage with other diverse populations.

The presence of the ACC and the efforts of Asian American students and campus community allies have helped to make Indiana University Bloomington more inclusive and supportive for Asian American and Pacific Islander students. This is particularly important given the recent incidents of race-related violence against Asian students, including the stabbing of an Asian American student in 2023, allegedly due to her race.

While there is still work to be done, the presence of the ACC and the increasing number of Asian American and Pacific Islander postgraduate students at Indiana University Bloomington indicate a positive step towards creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for these students.

The Asian Culture Centre at Indiana University was established to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures

The Asian Culture Centre (ACC) at Indiana University was established to promote awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian American and Pacific Islander cultures, histories, and issues. The ACC is based on the Bloomington campus of Indiana University and was the first of its kind in the Midwest when it was established in October 1998.

The ACC is a program of the Office of the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It aims to fulfil its mission through advocacy, institutional resources, cultural and educational support, and community outreach activities that promote participation and dialogue with students, faculty, staff, and Indiana residents.

The ACC is open to everyone, regardless of their racial background, and offers a welcoming and comfortable space for students to study, socialise, and hang out. The centre hosts a variety of programs and events throughout the year, including activities, workshops, exhibitions, and discussions on contemporary issues, history, and culture related to Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

The goals of the ACC are to inform and promote awareness about issues affecting Asian and Asian American populations in the United States, support coalition building and unity among Asian and Asian American students, build an inclusive and welcoming community, and listen to the needs of students to help them adapt to the changing learning environment.

In terms of demographics, Indiana University-Bloomington had an overall enrollment of 47,005 students in 2022, of which 8.42% identified as Asian. This made the Asian student population the second-largest racial/ethnic group on campus, after White students, who comprised 63% of the student body.

Asian students at Indiana University have faced racial discrimination, including a 2023 stabbing incident

Asian students at Indiana University make up 8.42% of the total student population. Unfortunately, these students have faced racial discrimination, including a stabbing incident in 2023.

Historical Context

Asian Americans have a long history of facing discrimination in the United States, dating back to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries during the first wave of Asian immigration. They experienced extensive discrimination, racial minorities, limited legal and immigrant rights, and economic exploitation. World politics, such as the Philippines' fight for independence and US trade wars with Japan, further contributed to Anti-Asian sentiments.

Model Minority Myth

In the 1960s, the term "Asian American" emerged as a panethnic identity to foster solidarity and combat similar treatment as a minority group. However, the 1965 Immigration Act, which allowed highly educated and affluent Asian workers to enter the US, contributed to the "model minority myth." This myth minimises the struggles of Asian Americans and portrays them as a successful minority group, creating a racial divide and pitting minority groups against each other.

Asian American Agenda at Indiana University

At Indiana University, Asian American students have historically faced discrimination and a lack of institutional support. In the 1980s and 1990s, they mobilised and established various Asian-specific student organisations, such as the Asian American Association and the Korean American Association. They also advocated for the creation of the Asian Culture Centre (ACC), which was approved in 1997 to provide a dedicated space for Asian American students and promote cultural awareness.

2023 Stabbing Incident

In January 2023, an 18-year-old Asian student at Indiana University was stabbed multiple times in the head in a racially motivated attack. The assailant, Billie R. Davis, allegedly targeted the student because she was "Chinese" and wanted to reduce the perceived threat of China. This incident reflects the broader issue of rising hate crimes against Asians in the US, with Asian Americans calling for increased attention and action from state leaders to address anti-Asian racism.

In 2020, there were 1,637 Indian students at Indiana University Bloomington, overtaking Chinese students as the most represented country

In 2020, there were 1,637 Indian students enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington, making India the most represented country at the university. This number has grown from 1,117 in 2020, and China has now become the second-highest sender of international students to Indiana University.

This shift in the makeup of Indiana University's international student population is not a new trend. According to Rachel Salinas, the director of international admissions at Indiana University Bloomington, the decline in Chinese applicants has been ongoing for around five years. She attributes this to a combination of improved higher education opportunities in China and geopolitical tensions between China and the US. Additionally, the cost of studying abroad is a significant factor, as many Chinese families cannot afford international tuition and housing fees.

The growing number of Indian students at Indiana University Bloomington has been attributed to several factors. Firstly, the university's Bloomington campus is attractive to Indian students, with the majority applying to the Kelley School of Business. The school's growing global recognition and positive word-of-mouth advertising from current students have also played a role. Additionally, Indian students are drawn to the opportunity to engage with an international community in a less daunting location, as well as the university's diverse student body.

The increase in Indian students has had a positive impact on campus life and diversity. It has allowed for larger-scale cultural celebrations and has contributed to a more inclusive environment. The establishment of the Asian Culture Center (ACC) at Indiana University Bloomington in the 1990s was a significant step towards addressing discrimination and creating a welcoming space for Asian American students. The ACC continues to play an essential role in promoting awareness, understanding, and acceptance of Asian cultures and issues on campus and in the surrounding community.

While the number of Chinese students at Indiana University has decreased, they still play a significant part in the university's international student population. The prestige of Western universities and the opportunity to experience a different educational system continue to draw Chinese students who can afford the cost of studying abroad.

Frequently asked questions