Office of the Provost

Race & Ethnicity Data Collection FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Race and Ethnicity Data Collection FAQ

What are the new race and ethnicity categories?
 

These are the categories developed in 1997 by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) that are used to describe groups to which individuals belong, identify with, or belong in the eyes of the community. The categories do not denote scientific definitions of anthropological origins. The designations are used to categorize U.S. citizens, resident aliens, and other eligible non-citizens.

Hispanic or Latino - A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race.

American Indian or Alaska Native - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) who maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community attachment.

Asian - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian Subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Black or African American - A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.

White - A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.

Why is this information needed?

 In the last few decades, the demographics of our society have changed significantly. As a result, the Federal Government issued new race and ethnicity reporting categories which allow students and employees to describe who they are in a more accurate manner. This information is also used for funding and civil rights compliance. The U.S. Census first utilized these new categories in 2000. Health agencies have completed adoption in their data collections. The Federal Equal Opportunities Commission (EEOC) began collecting data using these categories in 2007, and education institutions now follow.

Haven’t we provided this information before? Why do you need to ask again?

The federal government is collecting this data in a different way. To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to identify him or herself more accurately, the data are being recollected.

Is it really legal to collect race and ethnicity data on students and employees?

Yes. There are federal laws that require race and ethnicity data to be collected, such as the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) work force reports (Section 709(c), Title VII, and Civil Rights Act of 1967, as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972.

Why are the changes taking place?

 Since 1997, federal agencies have been working to adopt the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards for classifying federal data on race and ethnicity. In October 2007, the Education Department released the final guidance (Outside Source) on collecting individual level race and ethnicity data and aggregating data into categories for federal reporting. The new race and ethnicity standards: allow parents, students and staff to more accurately report their race and ethnicity; better acknowledge the racial and ethnic heritage of students and their families, and staff members. The change also ensures that data on educational institutions are consistent with U.S. Census data and other national data sets and consequently align with other agencies that are already using the new standards; and are required.

How were the new standards developed?
 

 In 1997, the Office of Management and Budget published new standards for Federal agencies on the collection of racial and ethnic data. Since that time, the U.S. Department of Education carefully examined its options for implementing the 1997 Standards and discussed the options with a variety of individuals and organizations representing educational institutions to ascertain their needs and interests, and examined how other agencies collecting similar data were providing guidance. The department carefully balanced the needs of collecting comprehensive and accurate data in carrying out its responsibilities with the need to minimize burden as much as possible.

These new standards, developed by the department after considering public comment, revise data collection standards in place since 1977. They allow a respondent to self-identify his or her race and ethnicity, and allow a respondent to select more than one racial or ethnic designation. The new standards require the use of a two-part question, focusing first on ethnicity and second on race when collecting the data from individuals. In the October 2007 guidance published by the Department of Education (72 Fed. Reg. 59266 (Oct. 19, 2007), at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2007-4/101907c.html, the department addresses how it will require racial and ethnic data to be collected and reported to the department under programs administered by the department. The department's guidance also explains how education institutions and other department grantees should modify their data collection and reporting systems to respond to the OMB standards.

Will PLU release my student race and ethnicity to other parties?
 

No, individual student records are protected by the Federal Education Records and Privacy Act (FERPA). The new race and ethnicity categories have no effect on FERPA's protection of student records. FERPA does not designate race and ethnicity as directory information, and race and ethnicity have the same protection as any other non-directory information in a student's education record. This information will not be reported to any Federal agency in a way that would identify the student. No one will check immigration status from the information students give here, nor will students be discriminated against in any way.

Will PLU release employee race and ethnicity to other parties?
 

No. Information is required to be collected by the federal government but is considered confidential information that is owned by PLU. It is reported in summary format only and never reported in any way that would identify an employee. The information is not subject to disclosure per subpoena as it is privileged information of the university.

Why do Hispanic/Latino students need to identify a race?

The Federal Government recognizes the fact that members of Hispanic populations can be of different races. Marking a person's ethnicity and race are two parts of one question.

Can I refuse to provide this information?

Yes, however, if you choose not to provide such information, PLU is required to submit the information on your behalf.

Where can I get more information on the federal guidance?
Here are some additional sources of information on the federal guidance:

The full final guidance document published in the Federal Register in October 2007, documenting the changes. http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/other/2007-4/101907c.html

Federal Policy Questions regarding the guidance on the new categories. http://www.ed.gov/policy/rschstat/guid/raceethnicity/questions.html

A best practices guideline published by the National Forum on Education Statistics, entitled: "Managing an Identity Crisis: Forum Guide to Implementing New Federal Race and Ethnicity Categories." http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2008802

Office of the Provost, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma WA 98447