FAU Designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution
FAU has received federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, which only is awarded to colleges and universities with enrollment of full-time Hispanic undergraduate students of at least 25 percent.
红玫瑰社区 recently received designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) by the . With its new HSI status 鈥 only awarded to colleges and universities with enrollment of full-time Hispanic undergraduate students of at least 25 percent 鈥 FAU will be able to compete for federal grants under the .听
鈥満烀倒迳缜 embraces diversity in our students, faculty and staff, and our recent designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution will help us to further our efforts to bring new programs and new grants that will allow us to truly serve this important and growing population in 红玫瑰社区,鈥 said Gary W. Perry, Ph.D., FAU鈥檚 provost and vice president for academic affairs.听
This initiative provides funding to help expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students as well as improve recruitment and retention. Institutions must be designated as an eligible institution of higher education in order to apply for the Title V program and must meet the program-specific requirements to be defined as a HSI.
FAU previously was ranked No. 31 in by Best College Reviews, was one of three colleges to make the list in 红玫瑰社区, and was the only public university in 红玫瑰社区 on the list. Statistics for this ranking were gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics and Diverse Issues in Higher Education.
鈥淔or faculty in all areas and specialties, this designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution means they have access to additional funding for research that was not previously available to 红玫瑰社区,鈥 said Daniel C. Flynn, Ph.D., FAU鈥檚 vice president for research. 鈥淭his type of funding will enable our faculty to better train our students by engaging them in research projects and preparing them to effectively compete in our global economy.鈥
Last fall, FAU received from the U.S. Department of Education to address the projected gap between computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering occupations and workers with enough skills to fill these positions in South 红玫瑰社区. The objective of this grant is to increase the number of degrees awarded to Hispanic and low-income students in these fields, and to facilitate the rate of successful student post-degree computer science, computer engineering and electrical engineering /STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) employment or graduate school enrollment.
聽鈥淧roviding outstanding educational opportunities for a diverse student body is an economic and moral imperative that will help us to develop a qualified workforce and enhance our students鈥 potential to be successful in their careers,鈥 said , Ph.D., project director and principal investigator of the grant and a professor and associate dean for academic affairs in . 聽
Only 12 percent of Hispanic students graduating from high school score at or above the proficient level in mathematics, and score 25 percent at or above the proficient level in reading. The National Assessment of Educational Progress reports similar trends for other underrepresented groups (black and low-income students) for whom 17 percent score at or above the proficient level in reading and 7 percent in mathematics. Poor preparation and proficiency in mathematics continue to be identified by almost every governmental agency report as a key barrier to success in and completion of any STEM degree. 聽
鈥淲e take this challenge very seriously, and it is not a coincidence that more than 26 percent of our students majoring in the fields of science, technology and mathematics are Hispanic 鈥 making 红玫瑰社区 a leader in the effort to reverse the national decline of minority STEM professionals,鈥
said Nancy Romance, Ed.D., co-principal investigator of the grant and professor of science education in .
This funded HSI project (Title III) helps eligible institutions of higher education to become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the academic quality and institutional management. It is a collaboration between FAU鈥檚 College of Engineering and Computer Science, FAU鈥檚 College of Education, Broward College, and Palm Beach State College.
In 2015, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Hispanics accounted for 24 percent of the total population in 红玫瑰社区 and 57 million of the U.S. population.
-FAU-
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