University News

WIU Cited for Hispanic Student Success

August 16, 2010

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Western Illinois University is the only Illinois public university and the only Midwestern public university cited among 20 other U.S. public institutions by The Education Trust for successful graduation rates for Hispanic students.

According to the recent brief, "Big Gaps, Small Gaps: Some Colleges and Universities Do Better Than Others in Graduating Hispanic Students," published by The Education Trust (edtrust.org/dc/publication/big-gaps-small-gaps-hispanic), only 13 percent of young adult Latinos hold bachelor's degrees, compared with 39 percent of whites and 21 percent of African Americans. Currently, less than half of Hispanic students who enter four-year colleges and universities graduate within six years.

The institutions recognized in the brief are serving Hispanic students well, as evidenced by the small or nonexistent graduation-rate gaps between Hispanic and white students, according to The Education Trust. Western was among 20 public colleges or universities cited for having the smallest white-Hispanic gaps. Western's rate is 0.8, placing the University at 14th among the 20 recognized.

"We are pleased to be included as a best practice institution in The Education Trust's recent study. This recognition further affirms our entire University's commitment to our core value of educational opportunity," noted WIU President Al Goldfarb. "I'd like to especially extend my appreciation to Alda Godines for her work through Western's Casa Latina Cultural Center and the resources and support this center provides our students."

For more than 38 years, Western's Casa Latina Cultural Center has provided support services for Latino and international students and promoted the understanding of the Latino people to Western's community, surrounding areas and people in the State of Illinois. Prior to the creation of "La Casa" in 1972, Raul Rodolfo Salazar, an assistant professor of foreign languages and literature at WIU, welcomed Latino students into his home to meet and serve as a support system for one another.

The Casa Latina Cultural Center houses two primary groups, the Latin American Student Organization (LASO), Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe and the International Friendship Club. The center's objectives are to expand collaborative opportunities that showcase the Hispanic and international cultures; inform students about sources of financial assistance; expand current programs and implement new programming to ensure that the changing education and cultural needs of students are being met; develop strategies to further increase retention rates and promote academic success; and create an environment that supports a wide range of student interests and provides opportunities for leadership and personal growth.

"Our staff works diligently with students to assess their educational needs and to ensure their success at Western. We meet with students when we see that they are having problems academically and offer our assistance. Our students and their families are making many sacrifices to obtain their education and we want to make sure that they succeed," Casa Director Alda Godines added.

In addition to providing resources on campus for Hispanic/Latino students, Western provides information about the admissions process to students at high school visits and college fairs in Hispanic communities throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. The University's current Hispanic population is 4.9 percent (total minority population: 16.1 percent). The number of Hispanic students at Western increased 29.5 percent from Fall 2005 to 619 in Fall 2009. Preliminary numbers for Fall 2010 Hispanic Student enrollment is 637.

Western has also been recognized as one of only three Illinois public universities for the Center for Student Opportunity's (CSO) "College Access and Opportunity Guide" for its retention of first-generation and low-income students. Additionally, Western has been cited as a "best practice" model institution among just 15 U.S. colleges and universities – and the only Illinois university cited – by the Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB) for retention and graduation rates.

"Institutions on the 'small gap' list usually don't land there by accident. Often, they have developed a strong commitment to student success, and they have implemented strategies to promote equity and high academic achievement as well," noted the brief's authors, Mamie Lynch and Jennifer Engle.

For more information on Western Illinois University, visit wiu.edu. For more information on The Education Trust, visit www.collegeresults.com.


Posted By: Darcie Shinberger (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing