Hispanic enrollment increasing at HBCUs

 

POSTED ON Sep 20, 2019

 

Latinos made up 19 percent of the students at Huston-Tillotson University in 2014, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). That same year, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that almost 20 percent of the student body at Austin’s first and only historically black college and university (HBCU) were Hispanics. Over the past thirty years, researchers say Latino enrollment at HBCUs has increased in regions of the country where the Hispanic population is growing.

Kara Turner, vice president for enrollment management and student success at Morgan State University, the largest historically black college in Maryland, says Morgan State has always been open to students from all backgrounds.

“We are optimistic about the potential for growth among degree-seeking Hispanic students choosing to come to Morgan,” Turner said. “Over the past few years, Morgan has made even more effort to ensure that we offer a supportive environment. This includes hiring a Spanish-speaking admission officer, developing bilingual recruitment materials, and increasing our presence at Hispanic-focused college fairs. We’ve also helped our Hispanic students start a Latino Student Association and a Latina sorority on campus,” she said.

Morgan State’s Office of Institutional Research, led by Cheryl Rollins, is responsible for compiling and disseminating information, including student enrollment and demographics. The office plays a major role in responding to the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, which are surveys designed to collect data from providers of post-secondary education. Below are the latest figures from Morgan State University’s Office of Institutional Research:

The Hispanic student population at Morgan State University

• Fall 2014: 244  (3.2% of total enrollment 7,698)
• Fall 2015: 279 (3.6% of total enrollment 7,725)
• Fall 2016: 266 (3.5% of total enrollment 7,689)
• Fall 2017: 257 (3.3% of total enrollment 7,747)
• Fall 2018: 264-(3.4% of total enrollment 7,712)

At Prairie View A&M University, Latino students now represent 4% of the student body, a 123% increase from 1980, one report said. An NCES study, which is quoted in the report, found  Texas College and Huston-Tillotson University have seen proportional growth of their Latino students—by 9% and 19%, respectively.

Speaking to Houston Public Media, Brian Armstrong, executive director of admissions at Texas Southern University, said that Hispanic numbers have gone from 4 percent five years ago to almost 7 percent.

“As the country moves closer to becoming a minority-majority population, several opportunities exist for HBCUs, from increased enrollments, funding, and attention. However, the appropriate strategic leaders and vision must be in place to take advantage of any opportunities that arise for these schools,” said Brian Bridges, who is quoted in the report. Bridges is executive director of the United Negro College Fund’s  Frederick D. Patterson Research Institute.