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Hispanics excel at UH

UH is among the top 20 universities in the U.S. for conferring degrees to Hispanic students.

The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine ranked UH 17th in awarding bachelor’s degrees in its annual top 100 list of colleges and universities.

‘The trajectory of enrollment and graduation of Hispanic students (from UH) is an impressive steep climb over the last couple of decades due to aggressive outreach and the natural increase of a growing demographic,’ Tatcho Mindiola, director of UH’s Center for Mexican-American Studies, said. ‘The center moves students to graduation earlier in more difficult fields, and our graduation rate is higher than that of UH in general.’

Twenty-two percent of all bachelor’s degrees and 8 percent of doctoral degrees at UH are awarded to Hispanic students.

According to the magazine, ‘Total bachelor’s degrees awarded by the Top 100 are up 10 percent … over those of the previous year.’

Hispanics comprised 19.9 percent of the students enrolled at UH and were awarded 17 percent of total degrees issued in 2008, according to the UH Office of Institutional Research.

UH has several programs devoted to retaining Hispanic students through graduation. For example, the Center for Mexican American Studies recruits, incorporates and guides Hispanic students throughout their academic careers.

CMAS has been holding a college career day for over thirty years with the goal of bringing 1,000 students to UH each year.

‘The location of the University, the diversity of the school itself, the vast array of degrees offered and Houston’s strong economy is what attracts Hispanic students to UH,’ Mindiola said.

CMAS’s Academic Achievers Program recruits high school students and grants $10,000- scholarships for four years, with academic mentoring and mandatory participation in academic and leadership programs on campus.

The program offers students support and incorporates them into the academic environment, professor Mindiola said.

‘The more integrated a student is to the campus environment, the greater the probability of that student’s success,’ Mindiola said.

Numerous Latino-based sororities and fraternities attract Hispanic students and encourage academic achievement. They help students excel at UH said Roberto Burciaga, psychology alumni and Sigma Lambda Beta member.

‘When you surround yourself with individuals who are graduating each semester it just gives you motivation to do the same thing; it keeps you on the right track,’ Burciaga said.

More Hispanics are joining fraternities on campus, according to Burciaga.

‘(Hispanic students) see a strong sense of brotherhood in fraternities and like to have that social network as well as people they can rely on,’ Burciaga said.

The magazine also ranked the top 10 academic and professional programs awarding degrees to Hispanic students. The C.T. Bauer College of Business ranks seventh for business and marketing.

‘We attract and celebrate a diverse student population where diversity has to do with ethnicity and work backgrounds,’ said Latha Ramchand, Bauer College associate dean for programs and administration. ‘Houston is a global city; business is more global than ever and Bauer’s student population clearly reflects this.’

Among Bauer’s 23 student organizations, the Hispanic Business Student Association is the strongest Ramchand said.

‘Cultural diversity thrives at Bauer and makes us an attractive business school for thousands of recruiters who seek our graduates,’ Ramchand said.

The UH chapter of HBSA was named the No. 1 student chapter in the nation in 2008 and has seen a 25 percent increase in paid memberships.

The Bauer College partners with community nonprofits such as Skills for Living and Management Leadership for Tomorrow and high school outreach programs such as the HBSA after-school volunteer program at the Barrio Center. This program focuses on college access for under-represented populations.

Students at the Bauer College reflect Houston’s demographics, marketing professor Steven Brown said.

‘UH rightfully claims the distinction of being the most ethnically diverse research-oriented university in the country,’ Brown said.

As the state’s Hispanic and black population is projected to increase to 52 percent from 42 percent by 2015, Frank Kelley, Bauer College assistant dean for Undergraduate Programs, said he expects to see a continuation in the increase of Hispanic students graduating with business degrees.

The magazine also ranked the UH College of Optometry second, the College of Architecture third, the College of Pharmacy third and the School of Communication in ninth as top academic and professional programs awarding degrees to Hispanic students.

The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine ranked the universities based on the statistics derived from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System program. The ranking corresponds to degrees awarded from July 2007 to June 2008.

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