Zuniga said he wants to make sure his students receive the best opportunities possible. However, receiving these opportunities solely based on their ethnicity is the last thing they want, he said. If a student's not going to make it here, it's not worth it. In Carlson's competitive atmosphere, it is necessary for students to be at the top of their game. The students Zuniga advises consistently rise to the level of expectations the school sets.
Academic success coupled with solid graduation rates are the two most-telling factors.
Similar to the undergraduate program, Carlson's master's of business program takes steps to promote minority participation in business. While minority students consistently represent about 8 percent of the total program enrollment, steps are being taken to increase the numbers, said admissions coordinator Tracy Keeling. Officials for the master's program participate in searches geared toward minority students, much like undergraduates are sought through college fairs at area schools. They work closely with minority alumni by attempting to increase networking. Giving minority students a hand, without having the gesture looking like a handout, is a precariously slippery slope.