Overview
The Race Categories and Subgroups (Race/Ethnicity) field group [user-race-ethnicity-root] in Element451 is designed to align with the 2024 federal race and ethnicity data collection standard, replacing the legacy 1997 two-question format with a unified approach.
Unlike the 1997 standard—which separated ethnicity and race into two individual fields—the 2024 standard is implemented in Element451 as a single field group. This group includes built-in conditional logic to guide users through selecting race categories, subgroups, and any applicable write-in responses.
🚨 Important: The 2024 federal standard must be adopted by all federal agencies by March 2029, making this structure essential for long-term compliance. IPEDS may choose to adopt this structure sooner, so when you choose to update your forms and applications may vary.
Understanding the Field Structure
Unlike the two field setup for the 1997 standard ([user-race-hispanic] and [user-race-categories]), the Race Categories and Subgroups field [user-race-ethnicity-root] group consolidates all demographic selections into one experience.
Within this group, users can:
Select one or more race categories
Choose subgroups within each selected category
Provide “Other” write-in responses when applicable
🧠 Good to Know: The conditional logic dynamically displays subgroup options based on the selected category, ensuring a clean and guided experience without additional configuration.
Considerations for Exports & Integration
As of April 2026, not all SIS or external systems currently support the data structure required for these new federal standards.
If you leverage exports or integrations—including Element451 managed integrations—confirm compatibility before updating forms or applications to the new field group.
How This Differs from the 1997 Standard
1997 Standard | 2024 Standard |
Two separate fields | One unified field group |
Ethnicity asked separately | Combined into one experience |
Limited detail | Includes subgroups + write-ins |
Static structure | Dynamic, conditional logic |
Race Categories
The field includes the following federally aligned primary categories:
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Hispanic or Latino
Middle Eastern or North African
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Subgroups by Category
Below is the full list of subgroups currently implemented in Element451 by default. You can adjust this list as needed using data sources.
American Indian or Alaska Native
Navajo Nation
Cherokee
Sioux
Chippewa
Choctaw
Other (write-in)
Asian
Chinese
Indian
Filipino
Vietnamese
Korean
Japanese
Pakistani
Cambodian
Hmong
Thai
Other (write-in)
Black or African American
African American
Jamaican
Haitian
Nigerian
Ethiopian
Somali
Ghanaian
Trinidadian and Tobagonian
Other (write-in)
Hispanic or Latino
Mexican
Puerto Rican
Cuban
Salvadoran
Dominican
Colombian
Guatemalan
Honduran
Spaniard
Other (write-in)
Middle Eastern or North African
Lebanese
Iranian
Egyptian
Syrian
Moroccan
Israeli
Iraqi
Jordanian
Palestinian
Other (write-in)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
Native Hawaiian
Samoan
Chamorro
Tongan
Fijian
Marshallese
Other (write-in)
White
German
Irish
English
Italian
Polish
French
Scottish
Norwegian
Dutch
Other (write-in)
📌 Note: Each category includes an “Other” option with a write-in field, allowing users to self-identify beyond predefined selections.
Why This Matters
More Accurate Representation
Users can select identities that more closely reflect how they self-identify, including detailed subgroup affiliations.
Streamlined Data Collection
A single, dynamic field group reduces complexity while capturing richer data.
Federal Alignment
This structure aligns with the 2024 federal standard to be fully implimented by 2029 and supports evolving reporting requirements such as IPEDS.