In a demographic study put on by Pew Hispanic Center and Hispanic Scholarship Fund Institute it was found that there are more Hispanic students enrolled in college today than ever before, but that due to various reasons there is also a higher rate of these students not reaching their degree.
The study sights financial burden, obligations to family, and sometimes-even marriage as reasons for Hispanic students not finishing their degree. Mentioning that oftentimes a student will take on a job to help pay for their education and end up attending school part time and working the rest of their day. This, according to the study, inevitably leads to an extended college stay and higher drop out rates.
The study also showed that the majority of Hispanic students in college attend a 2-year school or community college rather than 4-year Universities.
Fernando Salazar, Coordinator of Hispanic Services and Intercultural Education, says that SMU does not follow this study. In fact, the growing trend is Hispanic students transferring to SMU from the Dallas County Community College District.
“I’ve met some dynamic students who are hopefully not taking part of this trend,” Salazar said, “but it’s definitely something that needs to be addressed.”
The Hispanic population at SMU is not getting larger but is in fact shrinking. Salazar speculates that the numbers are 2 to 3 points lower than last year’s enrollment. Hispanic students continue to make up the largest minority on campus, last year they made up 7 percent of the student population, and the new demographics have not yet been released.
Salazar sites the resources at the financial aide office as one of the reasons that SMU does not follow this study.
“There’s always different avenues if the student does find a financial bind,” Salazar said, “there’s certainly other ways for a student to obtain their education.”
The study also shows that upon attaining their degree, Hispanic students typically do not attend graduate schools, once again, due to the financial burden. In fact, according to the study, only 2 percent of Hispanic high school graduates will go on to attend graduate school. Salazar says that this can be said for Hispanic students at SMU in that many, upon graduation, want to start working to earn some money. He also included that they might start thinking differently due to the changes in the economy.
Alex Perez, a senior mathematics major, says that although he can relate to students not graduating due to financial issues because that’s an issue for himself as well, it will not deter him from graduation and eventually graduate school.
“I would think that people who want to come to SMU are more serious about school,” Perez said, “They would take SMU more seriously than a state school, because they’re paying more to be here.”
