NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2006

Contact: Marisa Ramirez
713.743.8152 (office)
713.204.9798 (cell)
mrcannon@uh.edu

NATIONAL HISPANIC MAGAZINE RECOGNIZES UH AND LATINO GRADUATES
UH in Top 100 College and Universities to Graduate Hispanic Students

HOUSTON, May 18, 2006—The University of Houston ranks prominently among colleges and universities for awarding degrees to Hispanics. That’s according to the latest issue of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education magazine, which compiled its Top 100 Colleges for Hispanics from figures from the National Center for Education Statistics.

“We are pleased to be recognized, alongside other fine institutions of higher learning, for our commitment to Hispanic students,” University of Houston Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs and Provost Donald Foss said. “UH prides itself on a diverse student body and faculty that reflect the richness of our region.”

Using data from 2005, the most recent statistics available, the magazine listed the University of Houston as15th in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics—833 or 18 percent of the total graduating class; 55th in the number of master’s degrees awarded (117); and 14th in the number of doctoral degrees awarded (21).

In addition, UH College of Optometry ranked second on the list in the number of Hispanic students it graduates.

"At UHCO we are proud of the diversity in our student body. In many ways, it reflects Texas and the City of Houston,” Earl L. Smith, dean of the college, said. “Optometry is a fantastic career choice and we expect to see the number of Hispanic optometry students increase in the coming years.”

Other University of Houston colleges and departments also were ranked in the annual list.
The Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture ranked fourth among architecture programs in the country graduating Hispanic students.

“We are pleased to have a wonderfully diverse student body at the College of Architecture,” Dean Joe Mashburn said. “I am particularly pleased that this is achieved using completely blind admissions policies. We simply pick the best applicants.”

In addition, Hispanic Outlook magazine ranked the UH College of Pharmacy 13th and UH business and marketing programs fifth in graduating Hispanic students.

“We just happen to have a great deal of cultural diversity in our student population, and that diversity adds a new element to the learning experience,” Arthur Warga, dean of the UH Bauer College of Business, said. College of Pharmacy Dean Sunny E. Ohia concurs, adding that more than a dozen languages are spoken by pharmacy students.

“Although we’re very proud to be ranked prominently among pharmacy schools in Texas, attracting and retaining minorities – including Hispanic students – are part of our ongoing effort to be of service to our community,” Ohia said.

The spring semester ended with commencement ceremonies of more than 5,000 new graduates. Of those, more than 1,000 students were Hispanic.

“It gives us great pleasure to see the University of Houston included in the 2005 Top 100 list,” Suzanne López-Isa, managing editor of the magazine, said. “Their efforts for recruiting and retaining Hispanics are a testimony to their on-going mission on diversity. We congratulate them for this accomplishment.”

UH is the most ethnically diverse major urban research institution in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report rankings. The 35,344 students enrolled in fall 2005 were 38.5 percent white, 18.9 percent Asian/Pacific Islander, 18.5 percent Hispanic, 13.9 percent African American, 7.8 percent International and 0.4 percent Native American.

For more information on the Top 100 Universities and Colleges, please visit www.hispanicoutlook.com/top100.htm.

About the University of Houston
The University of Houston, Texas’ premier metropolitan research and teaching institution, is home to more than 40 research centers and institutes and sponsors more than 300 partnerships with corporate, civic and governmental entities. UH, the most diverse research university in the country, stands at the forefront of education, research and service with more than 35,000 students.

For more information about UH visit the university’s ‘Newsroom’ at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.