NEWS RELEASE

Office of External Communications

Houston, TX 77204-5017 Fax: 713.743.8199

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 29, 2007

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

TOP SPOTS: TWO UH PROGRAMS RANK NO. 1 FOR GRADUATING HISPANIC STUDENTS
The Hispanic Outlook Magazine Lists the Top 100 Colleges, Universities for Hispanics

HOUSTON, May 29, 2007—The University of Houston colleges of Architecture and Optometry are tops in the nation for graduating Hispanic students. That’s according to rankings by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine’s Top 100 Colleges and Universities for Hispanics.

The 2006 statistics, the most recent available for the annual listing, come from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics.

“We are proud of the depth of talent and ability that our students have,” said Joe Mashburn, dean of the UH Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture. “We choose the best students for our program and are confident of the high-caliber professionals they will become.”

Fifty-seven degrees were awarded to Hispanic students in 2006 from the College of Architecture. The ranking is three places higher than last year.

The UH College of Optometry also is ranked No. 1 in the category recognizing programs that award first professional degrees to Hispanic students. The college was listed second in last year’s rankings.

“We take great pride in educating, training and graduating students that mirror the larger society in which we live and work,” said Dean Earl L. Smith III. “Within the health care professions, it is especially vital that we strive to graduate students that reflect the patient population in their care.”

The University of Houston as a whole ranked 15th in the nation for the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics, with 911. That figure represented 20 percent of the graduating student body in 2006. UH is listed as 64th in the nation in the number of master’s degrees awarded to Hispanics and 23rd in the number of doctoral degrees granted.

The magazine notes that more women than men were awarded undergraduate degrees in the 100 colleges and universities ranked. It also notes that in its survey of individual programs, Texas has the most colleges and universities represented, with 17. In addition, the University of Houston is listed as 56th in the number of Hispanic students enrolled full time in comprehensive doctoral programs.

“The University of Houston is proud of its diverse student body and pleased to be recognized for efforts to graduate more Hispanic students,” said Donald Foss, UH senior vice president of academic affairs and provost. “We believe, as our city does, that diversity is a strength and part of what makes Houston, and UH, great.”

In the business and marketing category, the C.T. Bauer College of Business was ranked fifth in the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics last year.

“Bauer College thrives in a world-class city like Houston because of the global perspective that our students bring us and the innovative, vibrant and dynamic environment that we provide,” said Dean Arthur D. Warga.

The UH College of Pharmacy also rose to the No. 5 spot, up from 13th last year.

“It’s extremely gratifying to see more Hispanic students recognizing the pharmacy profession’s nearly unlimited career opportunities and immense potential for contributing to the health and well-being of our community,” said College of Pharmacy Dean Sunny E. Ohia. “We are pleased that our college is able to increase its enrollment and graduation of these students.”

Figures show that Florida International University awarded the most undergraduate degrees to Hispanics, 2,903, and the most master’s degrees, 682. The University of Texas at Austin is listed as awarding the most doctoral degrees to Hispanic students in the nation, with 51.

To view the entire list of colleges and universities ranked by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine, visit www.hispanicoutlook.com/.

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.