Since its establishment 15 years ago, Excelencia in Education has studied how colleges and universities across the country are intentionally serving and supporting Latinx students.
Now, rather than looking at the need to increase enrollment and retention among Latinx students, the focus has shifted to how schools can best support them during the coronavirus pandemic.
“The American dream is only possible and the greatness of our country is only possible to be maintained if we accelerate and enhance and increase the educational attainment of this particular population,” said Dr. William Serrata, president of El Paso Community College.
Excelencia held a private forum with institutions to discuss their challenges and needs. Some of the main concerns shared by institutions were whether their students were safe and had access to the resources they needed in order to continue their education. Additionally, schools were also looking at ways to provide mental health support online.
To further discuss the overall impact of the coronavirus, Excelencia in Education hosted a webinar Wednesday with institutional leaders. Topics of equity and technology, virtual graduation and unemployment rates as well as concerns regarding fall semester enrollment were at the forefront of the conversation. Panelists included the president of Florida International University (FIU) Dr. Mark B. Rosenberg, the president of California State University at Channel Islands (CSUCI) Dr. Erika D. Beck and Serrata.
Serrata said higher education will become particularly important during this time due to a“side effect” of the pandemic, which is unemployment.
“We are doing our best to hold all of our people, and enrollment will be key to that,” he said. “Enrollment is a means to an end for students who see it as the surest pathway to the middle class.”
