Austin Community College District (ACC) is grabbing headlines once again, this time for its collaborative efforts with Excelencia in Education to launch a comprehensive series of fact sheets aimed at bolstering Latino student success in higher education. As one of 24 selected institutions nationwide, ACC joins the leadership partners group to unveil new insights paramount for shaping the future of a demographic witnessing rapid growth on college campuses.
According to a release sent out by ACC, the "Latinos in Higher Education: 2024 Compilation of Fast Facts" is a collection designed to paint an accurate picture of Latino college students; their aspirations, and their challenges. "We have to know who our students are in order to meet their needs to enroll and complete," ACC Chancellor Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, stated. He adds a note of pride about ACC leading the pack in sculpting models for student achievement nationwide, setting a standard that others could look to emulate.
The fast facts provided by Excelencia present a narrative not just of enrollment, but of perseverance and potential obstacles. Latino students are emerging as the first of their families to breach the gates of college education, they are more likely to tap into federal Pell Grants than any other group, yet, they exhibit a reluctance to accrue debt through student loans. Despite a strong show of labor force participation, they find themselves ensnared in vocations that do not mirror their hard work in terms of remuneration.
ACC is not just a bystander in this dialog but a central figure, housing a Hispanic student population that makes up 41% of its entire body - a figure that has climbed nearly 3% since fall 2019. Dr. Jenna Cullinane Hege, Institutional Research & Analytics vice chancellor at ACC, claims that access to a comprehensive data set across various institutions molds a robust understanding, creating a launchpad for systems that "will meet any student where they are." She shared these sentiments in a conversation, underscoring the college's dedication to informed decision-making.
Excelencia in Education isn't new to this arena; co-founder and CEO Deborah Santiago points out that the organization's 20-year commitment to researching Latino students in higher ed is a testament to its resolve to foster progress and institutional change. ACC's consistent recognition, including the National Seal of Excelencia, speaks to its ongoing endeavors to serve and amplify Latino educational advancement. With the college playing a vital role within the select network involved in the Latino College Completion: US and Ensuring America's Future effort, the insights garnered promise to be as transformative as they are inclusive.
In a landscape where Seal-certified institutions are a scarce breed yet account for a significant proportion of Latino student enrollments and graduations, the analyses and partnerships driven by the Seal of Excelencia holders aim to ratchet up the urgency of this mission. Sarita Brown, co-founder and president of Excelencia, embraces this calling, "We are honored to make common cause to assert that increasing the numbers of Latinos that earn college degrees is essential for ensuring America's bright future." More information on these findings and the ongoing efforts can be found in the ACC Newsroom.
