The University of Michigan is a premier research institution with a glowing international reputation, but its efforts to maintain a diverse student body need continuing attention, an accreditation team found.

A team from the Higher Education Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools team awarded U-M a 10-year accreditation, the university announced Tuesday.

The commission's report identified diversity as an area of improvement, noting U-M's student body has 6 percent black students while Michigan’s population has close to 15 percent black students.

But the HLC report also complimented U-M’s overall commitment to diversity, listing initiatives like the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives, which assists in the recruitment of multicultural students, and the ADVANCE Program, which supports women in science and engineering, as evidence of that commitment. It also noted the Regents’ policy for providing enough financial aid to Michigan residents to mitigate the impact of tuition increases.

Camera-wielding University of Michigan graduates listen to President Barack Obama's keynote address during the May 1 commencement ceremony at Michigan Stadium.

Lon Horwedel | AnnArbor.com

Still, graduation rates of underrepresented minorities - black, Hispanic and Native American - students “still lag significantly behind those of majority students,” the report states. And that's a problem faced by students at universities across the nation.

Some of the commission’s comments on diversity are reminiscent of a January report by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit group Education Trust. The group gave U-M low marks after it studied how well the nation's best public research institutions reflect the student populations of their states.

School officials defended U-M in response, stating an education at the state's flagship institution is within the reach of all qualified state residents.

There is no mention in either report of Proposal 2, the measure approved by Michigan voters in 2006 that banned racial and gender preferences in government hiring and public university admissions.

Overall, U-M is doing well to expand and grow as state appropriations continue to shrink, the HLC report states. The commission commended U-M on the establishment of 100 new faculty positions; for its plans for the North Campus Research Corridor to help further the university’s academic mission; and its establishment of the University Research Corridor, a collaboration with Michigan State and Wayne State universities to promote research innovation and support Michigan’s economic rebirth.

“The university not only met the standards for accreditation by the association, but it excelled in nearly all areas, receiving high praise from the review team,” U-M President Mary Sue Coleman said in a written statement.

The report also provided suggestions on U-M’s plans to create a more global university, the topic of a self-study it handed to the commission for assessment. As it moves forward, U-M should take special care to help all students with the desire to have a global classroom experience. A central location, perhaps within the International Institute, that supports international activities was also suggested.

U-M has been accredited since 1913; the process is meant to assure the public that universities are meeting standards and maintaining the quality of academic programming and other activities. The latest accreditation took two-and-a-half years and the next is scheduled to begin in 2019.

Juliana Keeping is a reporter for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at julianakeeping@annarbor.com or 734-623-2528. Follow Juliana Keeping on Twitter