PR / Marketing Office * 4667 Telegraph Road, Ventura CA 93003 * (805) 654-6462
March 30, 2007 CONTACT:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Alisa Sparkia Moore, Esq.
Public Information Officer
(805) 654-6462
asmoore@vcccd.edu
VENTURA COLLEGE AMONG TOP
IN THE NATION FOR DEGREES GRANTED
TO HISPANIC STUDENTS
VENTURA: According to the March 12, 2007 issue of Hispanic Outlook Magazine, Ventura College is 34th in the nation among community colleges granting associate’s degrees to Hispanic American students. The article, “The Top 50 Community & Junior Colleges for Hispanics”, states that “[T]hese latest figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, based on a 95 percent response, rank the nation’s community and junior colleges in number of associate’s degrees awarded to Hispanics in 2005.” Oxnard College is 33rd. Moorpark College is not on the list. Santa Barbara City College placed 48th.
The 2006 list placed Ventura College 33rd, although Oxnard (OC) and Moorpark (MC) Colleges were not on the list. On the 2005 list, VC was 21st, OC 25th and MC 47th. On the 2004 list, VC was 38th, OC 46th and MC not listed. In 2003, VC was in 43rd place, OC in 35th and MC not listed.
A college’s placement varies based on the number of degrees granted overall, the number of full-time equivalent students and the percent granted to Hispanic students. Ventura College, like the other two schools in the Ventura County Community College District (VCCCD), experienced enrollment declines as the enrollment fees increased over the last several years. Fees have currently stabilized at $20 per unit for in-state students.
The latest statistics from the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) indicate there are 1,186 community colleges in the United States. There are 109 community colleges in California. None of the colleges in the VCCCD qualify for the Hispanic Outlook list of Top 50 Community and Junior Colleges by Hispanic Enrollment. Oxnard College did make the list of the Top 50 Community and Junior Colleges with the most full-time Hispanic faculty, listing 100 faculty, of whom 35 are Hispanic.
To earn this ranking, Ventura College awarded 869 total associate’s degrees, of which 305 were earned by Hispanic students. 35% of the degrees granted to Ventura College’s students in that year went to Hispanic students. In the fall 2005, the year used for the list, 38% of the 12,025 members of the VC student body listed themselves as Hispanic, according to the VCCCD demographics.
Ventura College President Dr. Robin Calote said, “We are very proud to be identified as a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. These statistics verify the success our College is having in serving those who have traditionally been limited in their access to higher education and the path to the American Dream paved by scholarship.”
Ventura College has ranked in the Top 50 Community and Junior Colleges for Hispanic Outlook magazine for the colleges awarding the most Associate’s degrees to Hispanics consistently for at least the past eight years. Hispanic Serving Institutions are recognized as such by the US Department of Education, and have more than 25% of their enrollment identified as Hispanic. Oxnard College is also a Hispanic Serving Institution.
Of the Top 50 Community and Junior Colleges listed for Degrees Awarded to Hispanic Students, 27 are in California, 12 in Texas, four in New York, four in Florida, one in New Mexico, and two in Arizona.
According to the American Association of Community Colleges website, there are 11.6 million students currently enrolled in community and junior colleges around the country, 6.6 million students in for –credit classes and 5 million in noncredit classes. 55% of all Hispanic undergraduate students are enrolled in the nation’s community and junior colleges. The nation’s community and junior colleges award Associate’s Degrees more than 480,000 annually. According to Hispanic Outlook magazine, the average expected lifetime earnings for a graduate with an associate’s degree is $1.6 million – about $0.4 million more than a high school graduate earns.
For additional information, please contact Alisa Moore, Ventura College Public Information Officer, 805-654-6462. Hispanic Outlook Magazine does not post the Top 50 Community & Junior Colleges list on the magazine web site, although they do post their Top 100 Four-Year Colleges list online at www.HispanicOutlook.com.
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