The Growing Need for Hispanic Faculty in Universities

The Growing Need for Hispanic Faculty in Universities

BY CHRISTY MARTINEZ-GARCIA

FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

Participation in doctoral education by underrepresented minorities who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents is increasing nationally as evidenced by a rise in the number of Hispanic/ Latino doctorate recipients. Owing to these growth rates, the proportion of doctorates earned by Hispanics or Latinos has grown from 5.1% to 7.0%. Unfortunately, the number of Hispanic faculty members at universities in Texas lag especially in head counts, in salary, and leadership positions. To that, top Hispanic organizations are committed to higher education and are addressing the issue both of Hispanic Serving Institutions and the growing need for Hispanic Ph.D.s. including groups like the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities (HACU) and the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education (TACHE). HACU which represents more than 500 colleges and universities is committed to Hispanic higher education success. Its mission includes improving access to and the quality of post-secondary educational opportunities for Hispanic students; and meeting the needs of business, industry, and government through the development and sharing of resources, information, and expertise. They believe that the nation's economic and social success rests on the level of skills and knowledge attained by Hispanics, who are now the nation's largest minority population. They consider that education is indisputably the key. TACHE is a professional association committed to the improvement of educational and employment opportunities for Chicanos in higher education. Their purpose is to provide forums for the discussion of issues related to Chicanos in higher education and to collaborate with institutions of higher learning to create workable solutions for these issues. More so, they provide Educational Advocacy to articulate educational problems, needs, and issues related to Chicanos in higher education. TACHE President Mayra Olivares-Urueta, Ph.D. said, “Never has our mission and vision been more important. In a period in which we are having courageous and necessary conversations about race, our siblings in the economic and social periphery, and the role of higher education at the local, state, and national level as we seek to achieve a post-pandemic economic recovery, TACHE must play a central role. Our work, voice, and insight are more necessary than ever and TACHE is here to help support our membership by providing resources, cariño, and respite.” While Hispanics make up about 40% of the Texas population there are concerns of the significant lack of proper representation at the college level and a lack of representation in leadership positions, which some consider a disservice to Hispanic students seeking degrees. The number of Latino faculty at area universities including Texas Tech University, South Plains College, Lubbock Christian University, and Wayland Baptist University currently does not reflect their respective Hispanic student population growth. However, each school is exploring the need to change that. Since becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Texas Tech University has not increased Hispanic faculty to reflect its Hispanic student capita. Currently, there are about 140 Hispanic faculty members, according to Dr. Lawrence Schovanec, President of Texas Tech University. In an interview in September 2020, he stated that they are working to improve faculty to better reflect its Hispanic student population. Marybeth Gasman, a professor at University of Pennsylvania and director of the Center for Minority Serving Institutions, said that it is important for Latino college-goers, 40 percent that are first in their family to attend college, to see a faculty reflective of them for retention and to achieve a post baccalaureate education. "They don't see a lot of Latino faculties and don't have them as professors when they go to college. So, they don't see it as a viable option. They don't have role models to show them it's possible." Research shows that Latino students are more likely to stay in college, obtain their degrees including more than one like a master's and Ph.D. from a school that supports minorities. As such, applicants should make sure that institutions they're considering provide "some minimal level of social, cultural support with mentors and a network that will help you," says Antonio Flores, president and CEO of the HACU. When asked about his thoughts on faculty diversity and hiring more Latino professors Arizona State University President Michael Crow said it best, “You have to want to do that.”

BY REAGAN RANZER FOR LATINO LUBBOCK MAGAZINE

The number of people with master’s and doctorate degrees has doubled over the years, but recently more Latinos have earned degrees this past de-

Ph.D.s: Voicing Platforms & Advocacy

cade Fernando Valle, an Educational Leadership Professor for the Chair Department of Special Education said the Doctorate in Philosophy (Ph.D.) is a doctoral research degree in an area of specialization and the highest level of academic qualification you can achieve. “We have Medical doctors with an M.D., and Dentists with a DDS, and in the world of Education we also have a doctoral degree, it is an EdD, a doctoral degree, and specialization in Education. My doctoral degree is in Educational Leadership,” he said. He said the doctoral degree has traditionally been a four-year plan of study. With three years of advanced coursework and a year of research specialization.

“I took four years to complete my doctoral degree and then like many graduates was optimistic and ready for the job market,” he said. Delia Carrizales, an assistant professor, and anchor for special populations said the process of each program of study is different. “It took me four and Fernando Valle, Ed.D. a half years to complete my Ph.D. First, I completed about 80 hours of coursework,” she said. “I started my dissertation, and it took me about two years to complete my dissertation throughout the entire process, I always worked full time.” "We all should understand that as Spanish Ph.D.s, we have a platform and that we use our platform to advocate for issues that are important for us." “As a former English learner there's always room for growth and there's always room for more advocacy, and there's always a way to communicate misconceptions people may have about English learners,” she concluded. Valle said as a Latinx Professor at a Research One Institution, he has networked not only in Delia our communities but Carrizales, across the state and nationally to work with other Latinx faculty who are passionate about engaging and impacting their communities. “It’s been a wonderful experience to have colleagues who are also good friends,” he said. “We understand each other and the spaces we continually navigate and overcome to reach our goals.” He said his advice to other Hispanics/Latinx in the field is that everyone belongs in the institutions of higher learning. "The universities and colleges need your life experience, your lens of the world, your culture, and your background to bring a diverse and real perspective to the next generation of students and families coming into our universities and colleges and our fields of study," he said. “We all make a difference and an impact in this role,” he continued. “I choose to make a positive impact with my graduate students and colleagues through relationships, through the rigor of my work, and being culturally responsive and Latinx connected and staying relevant.”