Project 3
How did Pomona admit its most competitive and least diverse class in years? Because of a record number of deferrals, the data shows.
At a faculty meeting, The Student Life got a tip that the class of 2025 had significantly fewer Black and first generation/low income students than previous years — months before such data was released publicly. There was a buzz in the community: was Pomona slacking on its commitment to diversity and inclusivity?
After interviewing the Dean of Admissions and examining the data, we found another explanation: the 83 students from the class of 2024 who deferred due to the pandemic — none of whom were first generation or low income.
This data story visually explained COVID's effect on the composition of the Pomona student body. It's one of the first data stories I worked on for The Student Life, and it remains among my favorite.
This piece was awarded Best Interactive Graphic of 2021 by the California College Media Association.
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