Washington, D.C.– Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today congratulated the University of Arizona on its historic increase in Hispanic student enrollment between 2009 and 2010. As noted in the Daily Wildcat, “Hispanic enrollment at the UA increased more than 7 percent from 6,245 to 6,712 students during the [. . .] period.”

“I join thousands of families across the country in thanking the University’s Office of Early Academic Outreach, the New Start Summer Program, the efforts by administration and staff, and so many others at the institution for reaching out to deserving Hispanic students who benefit from quality public education,” Grijalva said. “Reflecting the needs of the community, the state, and the nationwide student population is what public universities are all about, and the University of Arizona has shown great leadership in making those commitments a part of its mission every day.

As the Daily Wildcat article by Brenna Goth indicated, “Hispanics and Latinos make up about 30 percent of Arizona’s population compared to the 16 percent average in the rest of the country, according to statistics gathered in 2010 from the U.S. Census Bureau.[. . .] Hispanics represented about 16 percent of the UA’s enrollment in 2010, compared to the national average of 15 percent. Nationwide, Hispanic student enrollment increased the most out of any minority group with much of the growth occurring at two-year colleges, according to the report.”

Grijalva praised the University for “maintaining its important focus on attracting students, meeting community needs, and offering support well beyond the standard public school experience, both for Hispanic students and the student body as a whole.”

For more information, contact Shay Stautz at the University of Arizona at (520) 621-3108.