We need 14 million more Hispanic degrees

As Hispanic Americans watch the batches of data flow out from the U.S. Census Bureau we have both a sense of pride and anxiety. Pride in our contributions to American society and anxiety about the corresponding challenges we face, especially in the area of higher education.

The 2010 census is showing that Hispanics are playing an increasingly important role in communities all over the U.S. The Hispanic population in Arkansas increased by 114 percent in the last 10 years and now stands at 186,050. In Mississippi, our numbers since 2000 have increased 106 percent to 81,481.

Our historically large population in Texas is now at 9 million, or 38 percent of the state’s entire population. Hispanics comprise 48 percent of Texans under the age of 18 and they all hope to play an important role in America’s future in some way or another.

The path to a successful future has often included a college education. The reality is the U.S. Latino degree attainment rate stands at 19 percent — much lower than it should be. Our goal is to move this to 60 percent by 2025 in order to meet the college attainment goals set forth for all Americans by President Obama and supporters like Lumina Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. That means 14 million more Hispanic two- and four-year degree holders in the next 14 years.

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The Hispanic Scholarship Fund is a current public affairs client of Lipman Hearne, Inc.

About the article authors: Frank Alvarez is president/CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund, which has awarded more than 100,000 scholarships over 35 years. James McNamara, former president/CEO of Telemundo now serves as chair of Panamax Films in Coral Gables.

Over the past 35 years, HSF has been content to fly under the radar, quietly giving out $300 million in scholarship aid to students. With Generation 1st Degree, however, the Fund realized it needed to make more of a splash, and it’s been fascinating to work with them to help raise visibility for their organization and efforts like these.

President Obama is also a fan of HSF’s work, and donated part of his Nobel Peace Prize winnings to the Fund. His support was honored today as well with the announcement of HSF’s first “Obama Scholars.” Check out the coverage some of these scholars received today in this article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The media, however, is interested in more than HSF’s generosity as a scholarship fund. In meetings here in D.C. last week, we found education reporters were particularly interested in HSF’s willingness to tackle cultural barriers.

Though study after study shows that Hispanic students often fail to attend (or graduate) from college because of either familial expectations or obligations, few propose a solution to overcoming these hurdles. The Fund, however, addresses this challenge front and center, most prominently with this current Ad Council campaign:

English:

Spanish:

In the coming months, be sure to check back here as we feature more video clips showing the creative ways HSF is hoping to effect cultural change within the Hispanic community to boost college attendance.

- Elizabeth Farrell, Client Development Manager

Traditionally, these imperatives have put community colleges in a tough spot. There is a natural tension between their institutional commitments to open-access for all students, and their characteristically low graduation rates.

This challenge has made it particularly gratifying for us to partner with Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count. Since 2008, we have been working with ATD – which has received significant funding from Lumina Foundation for Education and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – to help community colleges stay true to their role while improving their outcomes. What began as a 26-college pilot program in 2004 has blossomed into a network of 130 such institutions spread over 24 states and the District of Columbia.

The success of this initiative receives some much-deserved credit and recognition in this Sept. 6th cover story in Community College Week. By highlighting the practices some “leader colleges” have employed to boost their graduation rates, the article provides ample food for thought for institutions struggling with similar challenges.

Céad míle fáilte: While the Irish greeting for “100,000 Welcomes” hasn’t translated exactly to  that number of new client relationships in 2010, we have had quite the busy first two quarters at Lipman Hearne establishing new partnerships. We are proud of, and excited by, the collaborations that are underway and would like to take a moment to properly welcome the following nonprofit organizations:

Advocate Health Care
Alverno College
American Medical Association
California State University, Northridge
Council for a Strong America
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
George Washington University
National Defense University
Northwest Area Foundation
Rhodes College
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Schoolnet
Seton Hall University
Society of Actuaries
University at Buffalo
University of Alabama in Huntsville
University of Pittsburgh Katz Graduate School of Business
University of Virginia Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy

Upon reading the first article in a three-part Business Week series examining high-profile searches for new business school deans, it struck me that it is hard to overstate the importance of getting this process right. As with a corporate CEO position, the individual leading each of these institutions — or at any top business school — is brand ambassador number one, and will play a critical role in stewarding these global enterprises amidst the most highly competitive period in business school history.

Being a b-school dean today is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Each of these institutions will do well to select someone who not only has the hard credentials, but understands that these are also complex brands for which their leader must embody the brand promise with diverse and demanding constituents around the globe. Their most valuable asset, their reputation, is on the line.

- Tim Westerbeck, Managing Director & Principal

One aspect of CCA’s mission is its Alliance of States.  These states’ governors and leaders in higher education have pledged to make college completion a legislative priority by setting completion goals, creating a plan to reach those goals, and publicly reporting progress.  The Alliance has 17 member states now, but its ranks continue to grow.

Clips resulting from the launch currently number over 300 in media around the country, in the Alliance states, in national print and broadcast outlets, and in higher education trade publications.

In addition to coordinating the launch, Lipman Hearne designed CCA’s new visual identity, stationery suite, a temporary landing page (to house materials for the media before the launch), and CCA’s new website.  Impressive comments about the site and the CCA’s work are already rolling in.

One early site visitor praised the website for “delivering  a great and powerful new tool that combines the voices of students demanding reform together with powerful state- and campus-level data.”

And from Stan Jones, Complete College America’s President, comes this recommendation:  “I know everyone is busy but take a minute and watch at least the first video on the website.  It is an excellent reminder of why we do this work.”

Soon the exhibit will go on the road and will assist journalists, business leaders, philanthropists, and others learn about this issue. The exhibit includes sections so that participants will be able to:

• Undertand the science and how early experiences shape the brain.
• Experience what high-quality early education looks like.
• See the results by making virtual visits to example programs.
• Get the ROI by delving into what makes this a smart investment with big returns.
• Test knowledge of the ABCs of major funding streams.

Learn more in this news story.

- Adam Shapiro, Vice President Public Affairs

Mrs. Obama is using the bully pulpit to raise awareness of the obesity issue and the epidemic’s impact on all aspects of society. As she pointed out during the launch of her awareness program on February 9, obesity is seen as a national security threat by military leaders and that, “Obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service. Additionally, economic experts tell us that we’re spending outrageous amounts of money treating obesity-related conditions like diabetes, heart disease and cancer. And public health experts tell us that the current generation could actually be on track to have a shorter life span than their parents.”

Mission: Readiness is also sounding the alarm about obesity. You can read more about how the organization is sharing its findings and call to action on the following blogs:

• • The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Larry King Live
  • The Caucus (New York Times)

Lipman Hearne is proud to serve as a consultant to Mission: Readiness, the nonprofit, bi-partisan organization led by senior retired military leaders ensuring continued American security and prosperity into the 21st century by calling for smart investments in the next generation of American children.  Mission: Readiness is the key group raising awareness of the impact of obesity on young people, the military and our national security.

- Adam Shapiro, Vice President Public Affairs