Boost Latino college attendance

Bakersfield Californian 2/14/07

With Latinos projected to have the highest population growth in the state by 2040, an increasing number of Hispanics will be expected to hold jobs that baby boomers leave behind after retirement.

But Latinos are not going to college in proportion to their numbers. They are not being trained to fill the critical workforce vacancies that loom.

Lack of knowledge about how to enroll in college is one of the main reasons Latino students do not attend college. This lack of knowledge endangers a competitive economic workforce.

Excelencia in education, the Tomás Rivera Policy Institute and the California Policy Research Center urge California officials to increase the Hispanic college-going rate.

Tackling the main reasons Latinos don't attend college is not just beneficial to the Latino community, but beneficial to the state and nation as well.

California colleges, including those in Kern County, should improve their recruitment practices with Spanish-language information and seminars for parents. Parental knowledge plays a vital role in whether Hispanic students enroll in college.

If parents don't know about college or understand how their children can enroll, students won't know either.

Excelencia in education is starting early. The organization targets maternity wards in hospitals by handing out packets of college information to new Latino parents.

Although maternity ward visits are not a viable solution for university officials, they should also start early -- in junior high school and elementary schools for areas with low-attendance rates.

Once students have knowledge of what a college education can do for them, they need to know what they can do with that education.

Job placement, Hispanic counselors, tutors and advisors should target Latino students. Having someone with a similar background to work with and push Latinos toward graduation will result in better performance.

Setting up more scholarships for Latinos will also help. Businesses should set up scholarships to attract Latino students.

Easier financial aid and loan application processes will benefit all students, regardless of ethnic background.

Lack of knowledge, fear of debt and distrust of lenders result in few Latinos taking out loans for school. Many hispanics pay cash for school, prolonging graduation.

California needs an educated workforce to remain economically competitive.