UNL extends Hispanic recruiting to younger kids
Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2007
LEXINGTON, Neb. (AP) -- As Hispanic numbers rise across the state, particularly in towns where meatpacking plants attract immigrants, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is working on ways to lure Hispanic high school graduates to the capital.
More than a third of Hispanic teenagers drop out of Nebraska high schools, says the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. And only 40 percent of those who reach UNL are awarded a degree within six years.
So the university is trying out its new program called Our Family, Our University -- or "Nuestra Familia, Nuestra Universidad."
And university officials are skewing their message -- higher education is possible -- toward younger kids.
"We want to get them early, get them excited," said Amber Hunter, assistant director of admissions. "Sometimes when we meet them as seniors, it's too late. They don't have the math, the right classes."
Some UNL recruiters spent the past week sharing their message of hope and possibility in Lexington, Grand Island, Gering and Scottsbluff.
The name Nuestra Familia, Muestra Universidad reflects the Hispanic emphasis on family, Hunter said.
"We're saying we're going to give them a family," she said.
In Lexington, more than half the residents are Hispanic, the U.S. Census says.
Only 10 percent of the town's adults have at least a bachelor's degree, compared with the national average of 24 percent.
Because many immigrants didn't attend college, they likely don't know how to guide their children there, said Juan Franco, UNL's vice chancellor for student affairs.
Many parents doubt they can afford to help their children with college and, he said, because many of the parents don't speak English, loan applications are daunting.
UNL believes it can help.
"It's a long process to get them prepared, and hopefully we can do better," Franco said. "We just want to get UNL out there."
More than a third of Hispanic teenagers drop out of Nebraska high schools, says the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. And only 40 percent of those who reach UNL are awarded a degree within six years.
So the university is trying out its new program called Our Family, Our University -- or "Nuestra Familia, Nuestra Universidad."
And university officials are skewing their message -- higher education is possible -- toward younger kids.
"We want to get them early, get them excited," said Amber Hunter, assistant director of admissions. "Sometimes when we meet them as seniors, it's too late. They don't have the math, the right classes."
Some UNL recruiters spent the past week sharing their message of hope and possibility in Lexington, Grand Island, Gering and Scottsbluff.
The name Nuestra Familia, Muestra Universidad reflects the Hispanic emphasis on family, Hunter said.
"We're saying we're going to give them a family," she said.
In Lexington, more than half the residents are Hispanic, the U.S. Census says.
Only 10 percent of the town's adults have at least a bachelor's degree, compared with the national average of 24 percent.
Because many immigrants didn't attend college, they likely don't know how to guide their children there, said Juan Franco, UNL's vice chancellor for student affairs.
Many parents doubt they can afford to help their children with college and, he said, because many of the parents don't speak English, loan applications are daunting.
UNL believes it can help.
"It's a long process to get them prepared, and hopefully we can do better," Franco said. "We just want to get UNL out there."
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Sven wrote on May 14, 2007 3:51 PM:
Carrie wrote on May 13, 2007 3:23 PM: