In September 2015, the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics marked its 25th anniversary.
With the shift in the nation’s demographics, higher education is concerned with the academic success of Latinos. Not only is the federal government trying to address issues of access and equity for the populations of underserved minorities, but higher education plays a crucial role in reducing the educational gaps for Latinos.
In the late 1950s, the Latino population protested and fought for its right to be recognized as an identifiable ethnic group. Once this occurred, the federal government was forced to play a critical role as a stakeholder in identifying and actively participating in Latino issues. The low educational attainment of Latinos calls for national attention.
Latinos constitute one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States. This growth has led Latinos to become one of the “largest” racial/ethnic groups in American higher education: 54 million strong. Yet, they are one of the least-educated and least-represented ethnic groups in educational institutions. Overall, the Latino population faces serious challenges in education.
What are some of the main barriers preventing Latinos from completing a college degree? Latinos are struggling with access to higher education, navigating the college process, and, once enrolled, paying for their college education.
College tuition continues to increase in significant numbers. With the augmented demand for higher educational degrees, it is quite alarming that Latinos are less likely to have access to higher education.
Here are some factors to success:
