WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) _ Five members of the mechanical engineering faculty at Purdue University have been chosen to participate in a National Science Foundation diversity training program so they can help recruit African-American students.

Purdue data show that 11 African-American students were enrolled in the mechanical engineering program in fall 2014. That's less than 1 percent of the 1,376 students total, making African Americans the school's most under-represented minority population.

The (Lafayette) Journal and Courier (http://on.jconline.com/1Gx3zFO ) reports that the faculty members will undergo diversity training, participate in a virtual learning community and work on projects.

Although it's unclear why African-American students are under-represented, department head Anil Bajaj says the faculty members will speak with students and attempt to identify barriers.

She says one of the barriers is academic.