During the last 10 years, the number of Latino students at UNC has increased dramatically, a representation of the University’s efforts to grow the presence of minority populations on campus.
In fall 2001, just 280 Hispanic undergraduates were enrolled. This fall, 1,688 Latino undergraduates enrolled at UNC.
Efforts by the University to increase the number of Latino students include the Latina/o Recruitment Weekend held on Oct. 14-15, an annual event offering Latino high school seniors an opportunity to learn about UNC.
The University commemorates National Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15.
Terri Houston, interim director of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, said the increase in the University’s Hispanic population is not just a product of larger demographic trends.
Houston said it was one of the strategic goals of the Office of Diversity and Multicultural Affairs to improve the presence of racial minorities on campus, creating a diverse and inclusive community fitting for a modern university.
Ashley Memory, assistant director of admissions, said although the growing number of Latino students is largely due to more high school Latino applicants, the number of Hispanic transfer students has also increased.
“We’re very grateful for the increased interest in Carolina, but we would like to see these numbers continue to climb,” Memory said.
This growth reflects a national increase in Hispanic college enrollment. According to a study conducted by the Pew Research Center, college enrollment for Hispanics ages 18 to 24 increased by 24 percent in 2010.
