Beneath the Shade of Giant Trees: Expanding Diversity Through International Enrollment at an HBCU

Article Summary This article examines international student recruitment as a strategic mechanism for expanding institutional diversity and achieving policy compliance within a Historically Black College or University (HBCU). Focusing on Alcorn State University during the implementation of the Jake Ayers desegregation settlement in Mississippi, the study explores how global enrollment initiatives were used to address state-mandated diversity benchmarks tied to public funding. Employing a practitioner-based qualitative case study, the analysis integrates institutional documentation, historical policy context, and reflective professional observation to examine the practical dynamics of policy implementation in higher education. The article highlights how scholarship-supported outreach to international students contributed to enrollment diversification while maintaining the cultural mission and identity of the institution. By illustrating the intersection of diversity policy, enrollment management, and institutional equity, the study offers insights relevant to higher education leaders, policymakers, and researchers examining strategies for navigating legal mandates and funding frameworks within historically marginalized educational institutions. Publisher’s NoteThis work is published by the Catholic Open University – Research & Study Center as part of its Research and Publishing Program. All published materials undergo editorial review to ensure academic integrity, originality, and compliance with ethical research and publishing standards. Each publication is assigned a persistent digital identifier (DOI) to support long-term accessibility, citation, and global scholarly dissemination. Availability Official article page:https://www.catholicopenuniversity.org/articles/international-enrollment-hbcu Catholic Open University Digital Library:https://www.catholicopenuniversity.org/publications