Add Salsa Without Losing Your UC Flavor

How can we impact Latino student success?

IntroductionsLos Colegas

(The Colleagues)

• Jeremy Hamlett, California State University, Northridge • Michelle Lopez, Texas State University-San Marcos • Delma Olivarez, University of Texas-Pan American • Lisa Perez, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi • Karlos Ramirez, St. Mary's University

Session Objectives

• Understand the “Stories” from Latino Colleagues• Explore Today’s Campus Characteristics• Employ the Role of the College Union as a back drop

for Latino students’ “stories”• Share Opportunities/Best Practices with today’s

Latino students

Your Expectations

The Foundation/El Fundamiento

The union is the community center of the college, serving students, faculty, staff, alumni, and guests. By

whatever form or name, a college union is an organization offering a variety of programs,

activities, services, and facilities that, when taken together, represent a well-considered plan for the

community life of the college.

Excerpt from Role of the College Union

Definitions of Terms: Identity

• Latina/o• Hispanic• Mexican-American• Chicana/o• Mexican• Salvadorean

• Puerto Rican• Cuban• South American• Central American• Tejano• American

National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE)

• Student learning and personal development are enhanced when students engage in educationally purposeful activities

• Engagement is positively related to grades, retention for all students– BUT underrepresented groups appear to benefit more

than others from the same educational programs or practices.

– Historically underserved students benefit more from engagement than majority students

National Survey for Student Engagement (NSSE)

• High Impact Activities– First-Year Seminars and Experiences– Common Intellectual Experiences– Diversity/Global Learning– Service Learning, Community-Based Learning

The union serves as a unifying force that honors each individual and values diversity. The union fosters a sense of community that cultivates enduring loyalty to the college.

Excerpt from Role of the College Union

Hispanics in America

• As of 2007:• There are an estimated 45.5 million

Hispanics in the United States• The median age for Hispanics was 27.6

compared to 40.8 for non-Hispanic whites.

Source: US Census, 2009

Hispanics in America

• The majority of US Hispanic Households (65%) prefer Spanish over English (Nielsen 2002)

• 78% of Hispanics want to be marketed to as Hispanics (Guerrilla Mktg)

• Hispanics spend .69 hours/day reading newspapers and .28 hours/day reading magazines (Strategy Research Consulting)

Who is (or is not) on campus?

• In 2005, Hispanic students represented 11% of total student enrollment in higher education (up 6% from 1990)

• Between 2000 & 2005, the number of Hispanics enrolled in undergraduate education increased by 30%.

Source: NCES, Digest of Education Statistics, 2007

A Closer Look at Origins/Descent

US Census Bureau

65.6%

14.2%

8.6%

8.0%3.7%

2006: Hispanic Population in the United States

Mexican Central & South AmericanPuerto RicanOtherCuban

Age/Gender of Students Enrolled(18-24 Years Old)

Source: NCES, Digest of Education Statistics, 2005

White Black Latino Asian/Pacific

Islander

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

4541

31

24

4

Ethnicity

Female Male0

10

20

30

40

50

60

7060

40

Gender

First Generation Status

• In 2003-2004, 29% of Latinos were most likely to be first-generation college students.

• Only 29% of Latinos in college had parents who had earned a bachelor’s degree as compared to 41% of all undergraduates.

Source: Excelencia in EducationInstitute of Higher Education Policy,

How Latino Students Pay for College: Patterns of Financial Aid in 2003-2004

Hispanic Students Are Located …

• In 2005, in which 2 states were about 50% of Hispanics enrolled in higher education?

• California & Texas

Source: NCES, Digest of Education Statistics, 2007

Hispanic Students Are Located …

• In which 5 states are almost 75% of Latinos in higher education?

• California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois

Source: NCES, Digest of Education Statistics, 2007

Campus Environment for Latinos

• “Students should go where they feel comfortable and safe”

• “There was no ‘menudo’ at the cafeteria like at this campus; this is ‘more my own people”

Excerpts from student comments in Excelencia in Education: Choosing HSIs: A Closer Look at Latino Students’ College Choices

• Although almost all of the students were commuters, many still participated in campus activities…Students highlighted the importance of having a student union or other location on campus where commuting students could mingle with other students. This made them feel more connected to the campus and helped them set up study groups or get needed support and campus information.

¿Que signifíca?

Traditionally considered the "hearthstone" or "living room" of the campus, today's union is the gathering place of the college. The union provides services and

conveniences that members of the college community need in their daily lives and creates an environment for getting to know and understand others through formal and informal associations.

Excerpt from Role of the College Union

Today’s Opportunities with Latino Students

• Literature has identified Hispanic students benefit from peer interactions (Norton, 2008; Hernandez, 2000)

• Provide a “Connection” - Engage• Recognize the range of diversity among your

students• Build Community• Create a Familial Environment• Role Model

Programs & CelebrationsPrograms• Mentoring• Support Groups (gender)• Peer Support• Tutoring• Spanish Speaking

Roundtables• Cultural Dinners • Mi Casa Su Casa• Coffee, Culture and

Conversation • Honor/Celebrate our Family

Celebrations• Cinco de Mayo• Cesar Chavez Day• Dia de los Muertos• National Hispanic Heritage

Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15)• Dieciséis de Septiembre

(Mexican Independence)• Día de los Niños• Quinceañeras

Opportunities for Collaboration• Promote unity among Latino organizations• Work with Admissions in using Latino students to

help with recruiting.• Involvement of Latino students on university

committees.• Work with marketing department to Spotlight

successful Latino students via electronic newsletter

• Programs that help skills in decision making; role playing or case studies

Great … but I’m NOT Latino

• ALL students need to be supported in some way to be successful.

• Millennial students provide “neutral ground”• Begin a dialog

Q & A

• What challenges are you facing in programming for Latinos?

• How engaged are your Latino students on your campus?

• How do you reach out to or role model for your Latino students?

Additional Resources

• Facts on Hispanic Higher Education-Demographics • State of College Readiness for Latino Students • Student Engagement at Minority Serving Institutions:

Emerging Lessons from the BEAMS Project

• 10 Years of Student Engagement Results: Lessons from NSSE

• Advancing Minority High Achievement: National Trends and Promising Programs and Practices

Additional Resources

• Your Campus Latino Administrators/Faculty/Professionals

• COMP (Community of Practice for Multi-Ethnic Professionals and Allies) - ACUI

• Your University’s Multicultural Office/Center• Excelencia in Education

EdExcelencia.org • Your State’s Higher Education Coordinating Board