Hispanic population at UNT increases

by Arlinda Arriaga of of North Texas Daily

Texas' fastest-growing population is changing the face of UNT.

Hispanic student enrollment at UNT has increased 48 percent in the past five years, according to enrollment management numbers.

In 2003, UNT's Hispanic enrollment was 2,812, and in fall 2008, it increased to 4,174.

Troy Johnson, associate vice president for enrollment management, said a change in enrollment was a measure of the university's growing diversity.

"I think that reaching the 4,000 mark is a significant milestone for the university and the Hispanic population," Johnson said.

Patrick Vasquez, director of Center for Outreach and Community Enrollment, said he thinks the increase is because of a number of factors.

"I think there's a lot of initiatives that support the minority population, not just at UNT, but statewide," Vasquez said. "It's also because of the growth in the demographic population."

International relations junior Sergio Guzman said he feels UNT has been better at attracting Hispanic students.

"When I began here three years ago, the environment didn't offer as many resources as it does today," Guzman said.

According to the fall 2007 enrollment numbers, Hispanic females led in enrollment compared to men. The enrollment numbers were also distributed by college and showed a significant enrollment of Hispanics in the College of Arts and Sciences.

Vasquez said UNT programs such as the G-force program, a program that encourages minority high school students to go to college, and the Champions of Outreach, a mentoring program geared at giving presentations to elementary and middle school students, have been effective in actively recruiting Hispanic students.

"UNT is good at developing and implementing programs that are supportive to Hispanic students and families," Vasquez said, "But we know there is a still a gap that remains."