Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX (April 16, 2014) – Excelencia in Education, a Washington, D.C.-based national non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate Latino student success in higher education, released 53 separate fact sheets on April 15, updating the current status of college completion among Latinos nationally, in each state, and in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
According to the information released by Excelencia, South Texas College is ranked first in the state of Texas and second in the nation in enrolling Hispanic undergraduates with an enrollment of 26,857 in 2011-12. In addition, South Texas College ranked second in the state of Texas and fourth in the nation in awarding Associate degrees with 2,138 degrees awarded in 2011-12.
“These rankings reflect South Texas College’s longstanding commitment to providing access to higher education for Hispanic students and our focus on completion,” said Dr. Shirley A. Reed, president of South Texas College. “Students come through our doors with their hopes and dreams and all the complexities of their daily lives. They look to us to help them achieve the dream of a better quality of life for themselves and their families.”
Dr. Reed continued, “South Texas College is a role model and has been recognized and valued for its contribution to the economic vitality and quality of life in the communities it serves. Improved employment and education opportunities as a result of access to South Texas College have yielded previously never imagined economic and social benefits for the many residents of Hidalgo and Starr Counties as well as an improved quality of life for individuals, their families and their communities.”
South Texas College is a reflection of the community it serves with a 95 percent Hispanic student population. Recognizing the need to foster a college-going culture within this community, the college’s nationally recognized Dual Enrollment Program is a model of collaboration with public schools allowing eligible students to take college courses while attending high school tuition-free. Combined, almost 13,000 students are currently enrolled in these programs. Since 2003, South Texas College has provided tuition-free dual enrollment to over 81,000 students in 68 school sites, saving families more than $85 million in tuition. In addition, drop-out recovery programs and other unique initiatives with high schools throughout Hidalgo and Starr Counties ensure students have a pathway to pursing higher education.
“America’s success is intertwined with the educational success of Latinos, and that takes leadership not only in Washington, but in statehouses and communities all across the country,” said Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (Texas), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. “Excelencia aims to give us critical information to strengthen America by strengthening the educational success of Latinos.”
Excelencia in Education last released these fact sheets in 2012, and the new data reveal progress nationally, with the gap in graduation rates between Latinos and Whites across the United States dropping to 9 percent, compared to 14 percent two years prior. To download the individual fact sheet for the state of Texas, visit https://www.edexcelencia.org/research/college-completion/tx
Founded in 1993, South Texas College offers more than 112 degree and certificate program options in a variety of liberal art, social science, business, math, science, technology, advanced manufacturing and nursing and allied health fields of study. Additionally, South Texas College is one of only three community colleges in the state of Texas to offer applied baccalaureate degrees. More than 30,000 students per semester attend South Texas College’s five state-of-the-art campuses, three teaching centers and virtual campus. Visit www.southtexascollege.edu for more information.
