Despite its national and international appeal, rap is considered one of the most controversial of music genres. Given the political charge it generates, rap music has spawned research across the social and health sciences. The majority of the research has investigated its impact on African Americans. Further, the research has tended to focus on…

The Houston Community College (HCC) 2010-2011 Fact Book provides statistical information about the college district. It is important for the reader to be aware that data presented in this publication may differ slightly from statistics found in other district reports. Such variances may result from differences methodology including the source of…

The Equity Scorecard, a nationally recognized and widely used organizational learning process designed to foster institutional change through the identification and elimination of racial disparities among college students, is described in this chapter. The effectiveness of this process and its potential impact are also discussed.

Most existing research suggests that financial aid has a positive effect on minority student persistence although there are few multivariate studies that analyze the benefits of financial aid to Hispanic undergraduates at four-year colleges. This study used path analysis to evaluate the strength of various predictors of student persistence,…

This Critical Issue Bibliography (CRIB) Sheet highlights general resources that provide an overview of the issues and dilemmas that Hispanic students face. It also includes resources focusing on the transition of Hispanic students to college and of studies of student retention and best practices for retention. Two articles cited relate to specific…

An interview with Raul Vargas, the director of the University of Southern California's Office for Mexican American Programs is presented. The office provides scholarships for some of USC's Hispanic undergraduates, raises scholarship money through alumni and corporate contacts, and acts as a liaison between the university and the Hispanic…

Using data from Achieving the Dream: Community Colleges Count, this issue of "Data Notes" looks at who receives aid, how much they receive and how financial aid relates to persistence. The data show that among full-time students in the 2003 Achieving the Dream cohort, students of color were more likely to receive grants to fund their postsecondary…

This directory aims to make Latino youth aware of various fellowships, internships, and scholarships available to finance their higher education. The three sections are each arranged alphabetically by organization name. Each entry contains a brief description and contact information, including Web site address. Approximately 50 fellowships are…

Strategies to recruit Hispanic students at Vassar College, California Lutheran University, and Arizona State University are described. Some suggestions include find out what current students think so you'll know your strengths, develop ongoing relationships with high schools with significant Hispanic populations, work with families, etc. (MLW)

Videos celebrating Hispanic Heritage and Black History month were presented at two regionally and ethnically distinct college campuses. Students (N=62) were interviewed regarding what attracted them to the video. Students of color commented positively on the cultural content as well as the musical and dance components of each video. Presents…

This article provides a case history of the development of Hispanic Student Organizations (HSO) by examining the contextual factors (e.g., demographic, historical, organizational) that impacted HSO development at the University of Florida from the 1970s to 2003. We trace the formation of HSO of cultural, professional, and Greek affiliations. We…

This paper investigates the determinants and malleability of noncognitive skills. Using data on boys from the National Education Longitudinal Survey, I focus on youth behavior in the classroom as a measure of noncognitive skills. I find that student behavior during adolescence is persistent. The variation in behavior can be attributed to…

A modified version of the Illinois Department of Public Health Tobacco Use Survey was used to assess smokeless tobacco consumption among students attending a state university in New Mexico. Respondents included 65 male and 83 female Mexican-Americans, as well as 59 male and 118 female Anglo-Americans. Ages ranged from 16 to 67; subgroup median…

An on-going survey of incoming freshmen shows that Hispanics are taking on the characteristics of college students in general. College selection, academic goals, nonacademic goals, and attitudes on social and political issues are discussed. (MLW)

Research suggests that Latino students' success in college is closely linked to the interpersonal relationships they experience with faculty and staff. However, the convergence of technology, media, and education promises less rather than more of these types of interactions. Relevant research is reviewed on the growth of technology-based…