Workforce Language Services

A story from KTRE news in Texas reports that colleges and universities want to double Hispanic enrollment by 2015. While higher education institutions have seen a gradual increase in Hispanic enrollment over the last few years, rapid growth will be difficult to accomplish.

The article indicates that it is Hispanic students’ families that most influence their decision to go to college. While one family with no college graduates may not consider or encourage college in their childrens’ future, another family with the same educational background might value it more.

Universities face a few obstacles as well. Some worry that bilingual students will be recruited by companies before they reach college level.

Recruiting Hispanics is a big challenge, says Avant. “Each student that we have that are already bilingual, they have jobs waiting for them,” [Dean of Social Work Dr. Freddie] Avant said. High schools, community colleges, and minority conferences are targeted by university recruiters. Recently, the SFA Social Work departments partnered with the school of foreign language to seek applicants to its masters’ scholarship program.

The most successful way Dr. Avant found is reaching out to parents. He is encouraged by the fact that graduates will more than likely teach their own children the value of higher education. “Really being able to reach the students and their parents and saying these are some of the opportunites for their children to build a profession and a career.”

Learn more about this issue in the full article.