With over 50 million Latinos – or 16 percent of the population –
living in the United States, our level of education and academic achievement
will have a strong impact on the economic development and competitiveness of
the U.S. in the world economy. The level of education among Latinos is not
only a social issue but a vital economic concern.

Fortunately from 2001 to 2011, the number of Hispanics with a
bachelor’s or higher education has increased 80 percent from 2.1 million to 3.8
million. Overall, the increase in the proportion of the population with a
bachelor’s degree or higher went from 26.2 percent to 30.4 percent.

According to Census Bureau Director Robert Groves, “This is an
important milestone in our history. For many people, education is a sure path
to a prosperous life. The more education people have the more likely they are
to have a job and earn more money, particularly for individuals who hold a
bachelor’s degree.”

The Diversity Foundation

The Diversity Foundation, a New York based non-profit organization, is
a leader in providing scholarships to deserving students. The organization
receives its funding from donations generated from corporations participating
in The National Puerto Rican Parade, among other events. This year significant
contributions were made by Coors, Coca Cola and Banco Popular, among others.
According to Executive Director Debra Martinez, “We are committed to
making a difference in the educational landscape of the Hispanic community.
 This year the Parade had ‘Hispanics in Higher Education’ as their
mission, placing the importance higher education at the forefront of the
nation’s largest Hispanic event. We at the Diversity Foundation are determined
to continue providing economic assistance to deserving students as a means to
strengthen our communities and achieve financial fortitude.”  To
join in the Diversity Foundation’s mission you can visit www.divesityfoundation.net

The Hispanic Scholarship Foundation

Another organization making inroads to provide financial assistance is
The Hispanic Scholarship Fund. The HSF believes that the country prospers when
all Americans have access to the opportunities a college education can
afford.  As the nation’s leading Hispanic higher education fund, HSF works
to address the barriers that keep many Latinos from earning a college degree.

In addition to scholarship opportunities for deserving Latino
students, the organization offers a broad range of outreach and educational
programming to help students and their families navigate through the
rigors of college life. The HSF objective is that every Latino household in the
U.S. will have at least one college graduate. Recently the HSF long-time
supporter Wells Fargo announced a historic $3.395 million grant in support of
HSF. You can learn more at www.hsf.net

The
White House

The strides made by Hispanics in Higher
Education are a positive result of The White House Initiative on Educational
Excellence for Hispanic Americans. Established in September 1990 by President
George H.W. Bush, the initiative serves to provide advice and guidance to the
secretary of education on education issues related to Hispanics and address
academic excellence and opportunities for the Hispanic community.

It was subsequently continued by President
William J. Clinton and President George W. Bush.

During the Clinton Administration, the
White House Initiative was governed by the Presidential Advisory Commission on
Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The commission was tasked with:
eliminating education inequities and disadvantages faced by Hispanic Americans;
increasing Hispanic participation in federal education programs; promoting and
publicizing education opportunities and programs of interest to Hispanics; and
encouraging private sector, state and community involvement in improving
education for Hispanics.

On Oct. 19, 2010, President Obama renewed
the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics. This event
demonstrated the president’s strong support for the critical role Hispanics
play in the overall prosperity of the nation and highlights the
Administration’s commitment to expanding education opportunities and improving
education outcomes for all students. And in December 2011, the Obama
Administration appointed Jose Rico to
the position of executive director. In this capacity, he is responsible for
directing the efforts of the White House Initiative in engaging Hispanic
students, parents, families, organizations and anyone working in or with the
education system in communities nationwide as active participants in improving
the academic achievement of Hispanic Americans.

New elements of the executive order place a
high priority on action, such as: Working directly with communities
nationwide in public-private partnerships, linking together key individuals and
organizations from within and outside the education system to increase capacity
and announce community wide education initiatives.

All these initiatives are part of President
Obama’s goal of re-establishing the country as the world’s leader in college
attainment by 2020.

According to a recent Pew Hispanic Center survey
while 89 percent of Latinos ages 16 to 25 say that college education is
important for success in life, only 48 percent plan to get a college degree. In
today’s economy, 80 percent of jobs require some education beyond a high school
diploma, yet only 53 percent of Americans earn some sort of postsecondary
degree or credential.

Parents, particularly those from
underserved communities, are essential partners in the nation’s educational
quest. To produce 5 million new college degrees in a decade, we need to ensure
that more non-traditional adults—including those with insufficient formal
educational experience or limited language skills—are prepared to enter and
succeed in postsecondary education.

Moreover, all parents must be well-prepared
to inform and nurture the educational aspirations of their children.

Literacy

The National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL) has launched a
nationwide effort to help more Hispanic families and adult learners gain access
and information necessary to prepare and succeed in college and beyond, using a
vast network of literacy programs across the nation to reach as many families
as possible.

Community colleges have become an effective
entry point for non-traditional students seeking the additional education and
training necessary for today’s labor market. NCFL’s research and more than two
decades of experience suggests that strengthening the capacity and interaction
of family literacy programs and community colleges can increase the numbers of
non-traditional students entering college and completing a degree. Only by
improving family literacy can we impact multiple generations and inspire hope
for a better future.

To help in this effort, NCFL has produced
five distinct resources, with support from MetLife Foundation, that are
available free at www.famlit.org/myfamilygoestocollege .The research-based
materials focus on helping adult students transition into postsecondary
education certificate or degree programs. Tested with educators and families,
the materials are designed for Hispanic parents who are learning the English
language, first-generation college students, as well as community and college
leaders and policymakers.

“As all of American
higher education struggles to provide a better pathway for Hispanics to enter
college, resources such as En Camino provide an engaging, readable and interactive
way for low-literacy families to introduce family members to the power of a
college education in a way that respects the authority and dreams of parents
for their children,” said Gail Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College in New York and an advisor
to NCFL.

Creating stronger connections between these
programs and community colleges can help us produce the skilled workforce we
need to tackle our nation’s economic challenges.

California
Cutbacks

Unfortunately with all growth there are
some unfortunate situations. California’s continued
reduction to education funding is forcing colleges and universities to turn
away students. Disproportionately impacted by this limited access to higher
education are Latinos, who currently represent 37.6 percent of the state’s
population and the state’s future workforce.  

Ameritas College of Brandman University recently launched in the
Inland Empire offering Latino working adults a viable option to earning a
college degree within four years. 

In California, Community colleges have suffered cuts totaling $809
million since 2008-2009.  The Governor’s proposed budget for the next
fiscal year proposes an additional $250 million in cuts if voters fail to
approve a tax increase on the November ballot.  Among the many detrimental
side effects of these cuts include reduced course offerings, which extend the
time to earning a degree, and lower enrollment limits, further preventing
qualified students’ access to higher education and little hope for the future
of California’s economy and its growing Latino population.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ January report projected that Latinos
will represent three-quarters of the growth in the nation’s labor force from
2010 to 2020. This projected growth further reiterates the need to focus
on helping Latinos achieve a college degree.

The InterAmerican University of
Puerto Rico

A positive example of educational achievement is the Inter American
University of Puerto Rico, a private, non-profit institution of higher
education, with deep Christian roots.  The University serves as a cultural
bridge between North America and Hispanic America. For 100 years, it has been
committed to the preparation of students in all branches of humanistic, social
and scientific endeavors.

The University was founded in 1912, as the Polytechnic Institute of
Puerto Rico. In 1944, the Institution was accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, thus becoming the first
liberal arts college to be so accredited in Puerto Rico and outside the
continental United States. This accreditation has been maintained since then.
In 1956, the Board of Trustees decided to change the name of Polytechnic
Institute to Inter American
University of Puerto Rico. Currently, Inter American University has more
than 50,000 registered students.

Facing the new century, the growth in the use of technology in the
teaching-learning process and the development of nontraditional teaching methods,
the Institution has developed Cyber Study Centers. Now Inter American University
offers more than 40 programs completely online and more than 1,196 bachelor and
master degree courses, approved by the Council on Higher Education, for
students in and outside Puerto Rico.  Equipped with the most advanced
technological platforms, Inter American University has made possible that thousands
of students achieve their university goals by completing their academic degrees
completely online.

In this way, Inter American University of Puerto Rico shows that it is
a modern institution capable of adjusting to educational and technological
changes, without losing its Christian origins and its cultural roots.

Hostos
Community College

Another example of success is Hostos
Community College. Hostos is a unique and intimate college that has experienced
a very positive transformation within the past years. Under the direction of
President Felix V. Matos Rodriguez, new leadership at almost every level and a
faculty dedicated to academic excellence, the College has created an
intellectually rich environment with high standards. In addition to new
academic programs, renovated facilities, and a new fitness center, the college
has created a winning athletic program, significantly improved technology, and
hired more full-time faculty with the highest degree in their fields. Hostos
continues to generate advanced programs and launch the careers of Latinos ready
to enter the business world with a solid foundation.