Texas State Ranked 17th For Hispanic Students

BestColleges.com ranked Texas State as 17th in the nation’s “Top 50 Colleges for Hispanic Students” in 2014.

The rankings are based on academics and the number of Hispanic students currently enrolled, according to the website. This fall semester, 11,606 Hispanic students are enrolled at Texas State, said Joe Meyer, director of Institutional Research.

The university set a goal of becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution over ten years ago, Meyer said. The university achieved HSI status in 2011.

“In fall 2004 there were 4,980 Hispanic students enrolled, and in fall 2014 there are 11,606 Hispanic students enrolled,” Meyer said.

The additional 6,626 students equates to a 133 percent increase from the Hispanic enrollment level of ten years ago, Meyer said.

“The 6,626 increase in Hispanic enrollment at Texas State University represents two-thirds of the net growth of 9,956 students between 2004 and 2014,” Meyer said.

The U.S. Census Bureau currently estimates 38 percent of the Texas population is Hispanic, Meyer said.

“Because 32 percent of the enrollment at Texas State is Hispanic in fall 2014, we are approaching a Hispanic enrollment at Texas State that is representative of the Hispanic population in Texas,” Meyer said.

Increased Hispanic enrollment in colleges is important for the future Texas workforce, Meyer said.

The Hispanic Policy Network, a group of Hispanic faculty that creates policy to benefit students at Texas State, helped the administration reach its goal, said Israel Nájera, HPN founder and Counseling Center senior counselor.

“We accomplished that goal two years ahead of schedule,” he said.

HPN’s new priority is to retain the Hispanic students who enroll at Texas State, Najera said.

“We don’t only want to bring students in, but our goal now is to retain them,” Najera said. “We wanted to make sure the students got the services they needed and deserved.”

Hispanics have not always been a focus in higher learning, said Daniel Vasquez, associate director of Campus Recreation.

“Historically, (Hispanics) haven’t always been invited to be a part of higher education,” Vasquez said. “Now that demographics are shifting, we see more young people coming in and being a part of the higher academic community.”

Vasquez said having Hispanics enrolled at universities is good, but getting them to graduate is better.

“As one of the fastest-growing populations in the state of Texas, we still have one of the lowest graduations rates in the state,” Vasquez said. “If the overall population increases and no one is graduating, then we get into a big problem.”

Selena Escobedo, bilingual education senior, said incoming Hispanic students should take advantage of the services the university provides for them.

“When I was a freshman, I was in Student Support Services and the Bobcat Bridge Program, and it helped out a lot,” Escobedo said. “I was able to meet with advisors and plan things out.”

Laura Ayala, healthcare administration junior, said she loves how far Texas State has come in its diversity.

“I feel accomplished,” Ayala said. “My freshman year I didn’t see interaction with the Hispanic community and the school, but now I see it through the Multicultural (Greek) Council.”

Ayala said the university should continue to build on what it has started by promoting Hispanic events on an equal level with other functions.

Amy Indalecio, radiation therapy sophomore, said she is glad to attend a university with the level of diversity of Texas State.

“By having the different organizations that we do, it allows everyone to get to know each other,” Indalecio said.

Indalecio said Hispanic students should not be afraid to take steps toward their personal success.

“Sometimes you have to go out and do things on your own,” Indalecio said. “The resources are there. You just have to look for them.”

Benjamin Enriquez is a News Reporter for the University Star where this article orginally published. It is reprinted here through a news partnership between the University Star and the San Marcos Corridor News.  |  @CorridorNews