Enhancing the Institutional Environmentfor Hispanic Student Success at UCO

Kristi ArchuletaGuillermo MartinezJosh Napier

MeShawn ConleyLuis MontesLiliana Renteria

Mission

The Latino Faculty & Staff Association

– supports the success of Latino faculty, staff, and students

– advocates for efforts, programs, and policies that promote an understanding of Latino issues

–establishes a network of support for Latinos at UCO and serves metropolitan community

Institutional Context

Oklahoma’s Metropolitan university

One of the top public universities in the state

Regional University

Over 17,000 students

Edmond, OK – OKC Suburb

UCO Student Demographics

Prospective Studentsfrom OKC Public Schools

Close to 50% Hispanic

LFSA ActivitiesCommunity Engagement

• Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

– Membership

– Conference Room

– Office Space

– Community events

LFSA ActivitiesCommunity Engagement

• Latino Community Development Agency

– Scholarship night

– Volunteering for events

– New relationships forming

LFSA ActivitiesCommunity Engagement

• OKC Public Schools parent workshops

– Every two weeks during the fall

– At different OKCPS locations around the city

LFSA ActivitiesCommunity Engagement

• Latino Film Festival

– Sponsored by Calle Dos Cinco

LFSA ActivitiesProfessional Development

• HACU membership and sponsorship

• Latino Leadership OKC

LFSA ActivitiesCampus Engagement

• Prospective student tours in Spanish

• Recruiting prospective faculty & staff

• Faculty & staff gatherings

• Diversity committees

LFSA ActivitiesSupporting Students

• Hispanic Success Initiative

• Student Engagement & Retention Committee

LFSA ActivitiesSupporting Students

• Scholarships

– Started endowed scholarship for students

• Aspiring Americans

– Guidance/support to undocumented students

LFSA ActivitiesSupporting Students

• Advisors for student organizations

– Hispanic American Student Association

– Association of Latin American Students

– Spanish Club

– LULAC young adult

– Latino-based fraternities & sororities

• Judges for student events

LFSA Membership

• Faculty– Math & Sciences,

Education & Professional Studies, and Liberal Arts

• Staff– Academic Affairs

– Student Affairs

– Administration & Finance

– Office of Information Technology

LFSA Significant Roles on Campus

• Faculty Senate

– Senators

– President, Vice President, Historian, Parliamentarian

• Staff Senate

– Senators

– Vice President

• Committee on Diversity

LFSA Significant Roles on Campus

• Transformative Learning Scholars

• Individual Campus Awards

– Modeling the Way

– Vanderford Initiative Award

– Presidential Award in Applied Leadership

Leadership support for LFSA

• Support from President’s Cabinet

• Provost serves on OKC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Executive Board

Leadership support for LFSA

• Exceptional Group/Unit Service Award

– LFSA is the first campus group to receive this award

• LFSA receives funding support for community and campus activities from various Vice Presidents

Breakout Questions

• Beak into small groups with people from other institutions and discuss these questions

• What is your campus climate?

– Demographics

– Community partners

– Leadership support

• What can you do on campus?

• What are the challenges?

Need for Hispanic Success Initiative

Hispanic undergraduate student populations have seen significant growth in Oklahoma and UCO 0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

All Undergraduates Hispanic Undergraduates

Percent Change in UG Students 2000-2010

US OK UCO

Need for Hispanic Success Initiative

Need for Hispanic Success Initiative

Disparity between 2nd year retention and 6-year graduation for Hispanic students

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

2nd year

3rd year

4th year

5th year

6th year

Retention and Graduation Rates

UG All UCO UG Hispanic

Need for Hispanic Success Initiative

Hispanic Students

All Undergraduate

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Retention Graduation

69%

25%

First-Time, Full-Time Retention and Graduation Rates

Hispanic Students

All Undergraduate

Hispanic Success InitiativeIdentifying Needs

• Hispanic Student Focus Groups

– Financial pressures

– Push-pull factors

– Identity & belonging

Hispanic Success Initiative

• Intervention

– Integrative Knowledge Portfolio Process from Dr. Melissa Peet (UM)

– Faculty & Staff Mentors

– Reflect & Connect sessions

– Service project

– Campus & community events

– Guest Speakers

The faces of HSI

Hispanic Success Initiative: Demographics

Yes69%

No31%

Low Income

Yes 74%

No26%

First Generation0 5 10 15 20 25 30

Alternative Admission

First Time Freshman

Transfer

Transfer Probation

Admit Type

Female67%

Male33%

Gender

HSI First Year -Success Data

UCO UG

Students

UG Hispanic

Students

Hispanic

Success

Initiative

Average GPA for Fall 15

semester 2.86 2.77 3.19

Average GPA for Spring

16 semester 2.86 2.78 2.87

Persist to Spring,

Percentage 84.8% 85.7% 92.9%

Enrolled in Fall 2016,

Percentage 73.1% 75.7% 88.1%

Hispanic Success Initiative

• Partnerships & Support

– Transformative Learning Scholars program

– Academic Affairs/Student Affairs

– Government Relations

Take-Away Questions

• How does Hispanic student success fit in to your institution’s mission or vision?

• Given previous discussions, what challenges do you see at your institution for initiating a similar program?

Questions and Discussion