NEXT EDITION PREVIEW:

Coming in the Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 Community College Week issue:

HISPANUC FOCUS: America is losing its lead in higher education. While other countries turn out ever-increasing numbers of college graduates, the U.S. is falling behind other developed nations in educational attainment. Education experts agree that if the U.S. is to regain its lead, it must improve educational outcomes for the country’s fastest-growing minority groups, Hispanics. Only 28 percent of college-age Latinos are enrolled in college, compared with 45 percent of whites, 64 percent of Asians and 34 percent of blacks. Such gaps are commanding more attention as Hispanics become a larger share of the population; Hispanics are projected to make up 20 percent of the nation’s college-age population 2020. So the number of students in American colleges will grow; less certain is whether their college completion rates will grow. Community colleges across the country are trying numerous programs and strategies to help Hispanic students earn a credential. We take a look at some promising approaches, including the Pathway to Baccalaurate programs at NOVA, the Doorways to Success program at Monroe Community College and the First-Year Connection Program at South Texas College. Each of these share at least one thing in common: identifying promising students and offering then intense student services all the way through to graduation.

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