LAS VEGAS, AUG. 7, 2012 — More Latinos are graduating with two-year degrees in science technologies at the College of Southern Nevada than any other community college in the nation, according to a recent
report from Excelencia in Education.
The nonprofit research organization promotes education policies and institutional practices that support academic success for Latino students.
The Excelencia in Education report, “Finding Your Workforce,” provides a summary of the top 25 institutions at each academic level graduating Latinos in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields in 2009-10. The third in an annual series, the publication draws attention to the institutions graduating Latinos in postsecondary education to link U.S college completion goals with the nation’s workforce needs.
Key findings from the study include:
- Latinos earned only 8 percent of STEM certificates and degrees nationwide.
- Latino degree attainment in STEM is concentrated geographically. At the undergraduate level, the top 25 institutions conferring certificates or degrees to Latinos in 2009-10 were located in Texas, Florida, California, Arizona, Illinois, New Mexico and Puerto Rico.
- Latino degree attainment in STEM is concentrated at the bachelor level. In 2009-10, 60 percent of degrees conferred to Latinos in STEM were bachelor degrees.
- Latinos in the STEM workforce are more likely to be in lower paying service occupations in 2011—such as electrical, electronics, and electromechanical assemblers, telecommunications line installers and repairers, and aircraft mechanics and service technicians—than higher paying professional occupations—such architectural and engineering managers and computer and information systems managers.
The report looks at the top 25 institutions to graduate Latinos in biological/biomedical sciences, physical sciences, science technologies, computer/information sciences, engineering technology, engineering and mathematics/statistics.
In 2009-10, CSN awarded 128 associate of science degrees, more than any other community college in the nation, according to Community College Week’s
Top 100 Associate Degree Producers 2012 report. Of those awards, 29 went to Latino students. That year, CSN awarded a total of 2,041 degrees and certificates, 19 percent of which were earned by Latinos.
“CSN aspires to sustain our position in science technologies and improve our level of performance in other areas,” said CSN President Michael Richards. “As we work to implement CSN’s plan to become a Hispanic Serving Institution, we must continue to focus on academic success for all of our students in STEM fields that are critical to our state’s economic development goals.”
ABOUT EXCELENCIA IN EDUCATION:
Excelencia in Education accelerates higher education success for Latino students by providing data-driven analysis of the educational status of Latinos, and by promoting education policies and institutional practices that support their academic achievement. A non-profit organization, Excelencia is building a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s need for a highly educated workforce and for civic leadership.
Founded in 1971 and educating thousands of students a semester, the College of Southern Nevada (www.csn.edu) is the state’s largest and most ethnically diverse higher education institution. CSN offers more than 200 degree and certificate options in more than 130 areas of study, including 25 degree and certificate programs available entirely online. Students create flexible, personalized schedules including day, evening and weekend classes taught on three main campuses and multiple locations throughout Southern Nevada. CSN -- Your future starts here
# # #
