FROM THE PUBLISHER'S DESK

November 19, 2007

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome to our Publisher's Picks, our annual list of colleges and universities at which, in our judgment, many Hispanic students have shown they can thrive and persist.

We're sending this special issue not only to our subscribers but also to 3,500 high school counselors nationwide.

The big picture: Hispanic enrollment in higher education — the actual headcount — increased immensely over the last decade — far more than that of any other racial/ethnic minority. A recent ACE report shows a 67 percent jump between 1994 and 2004. And a 73 percent increase at four- year institutions. That is splendid news, and our institutions deserve applause for accommodating and enabling that increase.

But the Hispanic college-participation rate — the percentage of Hispanic high school grads 18 to 24 enrolled in college — is nearly at a standstill. A slight uptick from 35 to 37 percent from ‘93-95 to ‘03-05, when that of Whites went from 43 to 48. If we are unable to generate a substantial increase, that failure will be felt by our people and our nation for years to come. A sizable, fixed underclass of the undereducated and underachieving can be found throughout the world. We must not let that happen to Hispanics here.

The sheer number of Hispanics persisting to graduation and earning degrees is rising and very heartening, especially when graduation represents a family first. The positive ripple effects of college graduation are well documented.

Graduation rates of Hispanics continue to lag well below those of the White majority. But some argue persuasively that the changing times call for new measurements.

About one in four students today falls into the old category of "traditional" — a young person fresh out of high school and attending full time, gaining a degree at the end of four years. Schools have been adapting, to be sure, but not that many have done everything possible to attract and engage the three out of four who are not in that category, so many of whom are Hispanic. Some are simultaneously working off campus full time, or caring for small children, or even contributing toward basic household expenses of their parents.

"Nontraditional" factors are realities for many students today, Hispanic or not. The challenges they present merit high priority and prompt attention, in our view.

To parents of potential college students — please do your homework! Seek out and use the resources, some of them newly minted and en español, that can demystify the process of preparing for and applying to a college or university. Don't be put off by the sticker price, and do get an early start.

Buena suerte to all!

José López-Isa
Publisher