The Progress of Latinos in Higher Education: Strategies to Create Student Success Programs at Community Colleges

Association of Community College Trustees. 1233 20th Street NW Suite 605, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 202-775-4667; Fax: 202-223-1297; Web site: http://www.acct.org

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Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Hispanic American Students; Access to Education; Postsecondary Education; Community Colleges; At Risk Students; Educational Attainment; Program Effectiveness; Intervention; Graduation Rate; Student Needs; Housing; College Readiness; High Schools; Summer Programs; Associate Degrees; Racial Differences; Ethnicity; College Attendance; Academic Support Services; Leadership Responsibility; Partnerships in Education; College School Cooperation; Accountability; Transitional Programs; Faculty Development

New York (New York); Washington; Texas; California; Massachusetts

Although the United States is touted as a country where anyone could be successful regardless of social class or national background, upward social mobility is hard to attain. Less than one in 10 children born into poverty will reach the top of the income distribution. For many individuals, postsecondary education has historically been a way out of poverty. To increase the number of college degree holders, officials at all levels of government and philanthropic foundations have created initiatives targeted to postsecondary institutions. Given that community colleges provide open access to college at an affordable cost, these institutions have received significant attention in promoting the completion agenda. Latinos, in particular, are a population that can contribute significantly to increasing attainment rates. By 2065, it is projected that nearly one in four U.S. residents will be Latino, up from nearly one in five in 2015. However, only 23 percent of Latinos over the age of 25 have earned an associate's degree or higher -- the lowest rate among any racial and ethnic group currently reported. As the second largest population group in the United States, increasing Latino student college completion is essential to increasing our attainment rates. Institutions looking to create or enhance initiatives that increase access and success should identify programs that work well in one community and adapt the model to account for their specific communities. To provide readers with successful models and strategies, the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) interviewed five initiatives at community colleges that have seen positive outcomes. These nationally recognized initiatives were chosen because of their demonstrated commitment to serve students and the community at large. Many of these institutions also serve a substantial number of Latino students, targeting a population that can substantially contribute to the national completion agenda. It is hoped their collective experiences can provide key strategies for success.

ERIC

2021

ED611062