More than one in five Coloradans identifies as Hispanic or Latino, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As that population continues to grow in our state, so does their college enrollment. Data from the National Center for Education Statistics show that, nationwide, Hispanic or Latino college enrollment rates increased from 22% in the year 2000 to 36% in 2018.
And this increased enrollment in Colorado over the last two decades has led to several two-year and four-year schools becoming Hispanic-serving institutions, a designation from the U.S. Department of Education that allows schools to expand educational opportunities for both current and prospective Hispanic or Latino students.
The latest school in Colorado to receive this designation is the University of Colorado Denver, notably making it the first research university in Colorado to attain the status.
For more on the school’s journey to this point, and what the recent recognition will mean for the future, Colorado Edition’s Henry Zimmerman spoke with Antonio Farias, vice chancellor of diversity, equity and inclusion at CU Denver; and Chris Hilton, a third-year student in CU Denver’s Public Health program who also serves as student body president and as a student representative to the University of Colorado Board of Regents.
