“Hispanic Magazine” and Univision Online Name DePaul Among the Top Schools

For the second year in a row, Hispanic magazine has named DePaul University among the top 25 colleges and universities for Hispanic students. The university also is among the top colleges and universities being showcased by Univision Online as best schools for Hispanics.

Hispanic magazine’s national rankings, which appear in the March issue, list DePaul as 18th among the top 25 institutions of higher education considered best for Hispanics. The ranking is based on criteria such as recruitment and retention of Latino students, enrollment figures that mirror the country’s rapidly increasing Hispanic population and the number of graduating Latinos. For the latter, Hispanic magazine referred to the “Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education” 2000 Top 100 list, which ranked DePaul as 78th in awarding bachelor’s degrees to Hispanics, with 185 degrees conferred that year.

DePaul is one of only two universities in Illinois to have made the magazine’s list of top schools. Northeastern Illinois University is ranked 25th. The majority of the listed schools are located in states with significantly higher Hispanic populations, such as Texas.

DePaul’s Hispanic enrollment has increased right along with its total enrollment. Latino students account for 12.5 percent of the student population, which reached a record-breaking 20,547 students in the 2000-2001 academic year, and distinguished DePaul as the largest Catholic university in the country for the third year in a row.

“DePaul University works closely with the National Hispanic Institute, a college preparation program, to find top-level Hispanic students,” writes the magazine. “For a private university, the number of Latino students is quite strong. DePaul also offers undergraduate degree programs in Latino and Latin American studies.”

Other ranking criteria included academic excellence, the number of Latino-related degree programs, Hispanic student organizations, minority support programs and Hispanic faculty. Univision Online is an affiliation of the national, Hispanic television network of the same name. The Spanish-language Internet news source, located at www.univision.com, will showcase DePaul for one week, beginning April 9. A profile of the university, the stories of a successful alumnus and three current students, and admission and scholarship information will be available. A link to DePaul’s own Web site will make it easier for students and parents to gain additional information on university programs. The showcase is a feature of Univision’s section called “En la U,” where 28 colleges and universities will be featured over as many weeks.

According to a spokesperson for the education Web channel, Univision designed the showcases for Hispanic-American high school students to provide them with in-depth information on the college admissions process and the benefits of obtaining a college education. Realizing that many Hispanic high school students are not bi-lingual, Univision is offering “En La U” in both English and Spanish. Once the DePaul showcase week has ended, the information on the university will be stored in a database so that visitors to the site will have access to the university profile, application and scholarship information and the name of a DePaul representative whom students and parents can contact directly.

“We are pleased to be recognized by the Hispanic media for our commitment to diversity, which has resulted in making a college education at DePaul a reality for a rapidly growing number of Hispanic students," said David Kalsbeek, vice president for Enrollment Management. "An urban university rich in resources for minorities and with deep connections to the Hispanic and Latino community, DePaul is an excellent match for students seeking Catholic values, a nationally renowned and affordable private education, and a network of campuses close to family and community."