Ga. colleges increase Hispanic enrollment

The number of Hispanic students enrolled in Georgia’s colleges skyrocketed over the past decade and a report released today predicts the trend will continue, requiring colleges to develop programs to attract and keep these students.

College enrollment for Hispanic students at Georgia’s public and private schools grew by almost 150 percent, or about 7,700 students, from 1997-2007, according to the Fact Book on Higher Education from the Southern Regional Education Board, a nonprofit, nonpartisan group that advocates for education in Georgia and 15 other states. The gain reflects changes found in the state’s overall population.

The trend is expected to accelerate as Hispanic students represent a larger portion of Georgia’s public high school graduates. They were 4 percent of the state’s graduates in 2005, but are projected to be 24 percent in 2022, according to the group’s data.

The changing demographics offer opportunities and risks for colleges, said Joe Marks, director of education data services for SREB.

“The future for Georgia’s colleges will depend on how well they respond to Hispanic students,” he said. “In many ways it will be an uphill battle because we know Hispanics are less likely to attend and graduate from college. Based on the way these numbers are shaping up colleges need to be looking ahead.”

The University of Georgia will host a conference in October that will include sessions about the recruitment and retention of Hispanic students. Also in October, the University System of Georgia will hold a diversity conference which will look at changing demographics in the state.

Over the past few years, Georgia’s public colleges have hired recruiters to target Hispanic students. Colleges developed brochures and Web sites in Spanish.

Oscar Beltran, a recruiter for Kennesaw State University, said Hispanic students are more aware of options and the application process because of the outreach. Three years ago many students had never heard of the SAT or ACT, while now students are more familiar with college entrance exams, he said.

Beltran said he visits about 25 high schools a year predominantly in Cobb County, Gainesville and Dalton.

“We talk about how they are not alone on campus and we review the support they will receive,” Beltran said. “Those personal relationships are very important for us in the Hispanic culture.”

Many of the colleges provide students with tutors, mentors and advisors. They also offer scholarship assistance and other support services.

Eric Cuevas, a recruiter at Georgia Perimeter College, said he often tells students and their families about his experience. Cuevas, 24, graduated from Florida International University in Miami but said his parents barely finished high school. His father is from Cuba and his mother is from the Dominican Republic.

“The main issue is to instill hope for kids who don’t see a value in continuing their education,” Cuevas said. “I explain that yes it is expensive and you may have to sacrifice to pay for it, but that it’s worth it.”