Posted on September 25, 2013 by KC Gonzalez, Public Affairs Specialist
The UTSA College of Engineering and College of Business are ranked the No. 5 and No. 8 graduate schools in the nation for Hispanics, respectively, according to the Hispanic Business 2013 Annual Diversity Report. This is the fourth consecutive year the College of Engineering has been ranked and the sixth consecutive year the College of Business has been ranked among the top 10 “Best Schools for Hispanics.”
hispanicbusiness Top 10 Graphic
“We are proud that our College of Business and College of Engineering continue to provide a top-tier academic experience not only to Hispanic students but to all students,” said Lisa Firmin, UTSA associate provost for faculty and student diversity and recruitment. “As a Hispanic Serving Institution for many years, we are keenly aware of what our students need to be successful in college.”
The UTSA College of Business offers a portfolio of 30 graduate business programs that are known for their high quality, flexibility and affordability including the M.B.A., M.B.A. International, Executive M.B.A. and specialized master’s programs. Enrolling more than 600 graduate students, the college’s graduate student body is diverse with 35 percent women, 30 percent minorities and 14 percent international students. Accredited by AACSB International, the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the college is one of the 40 largest business schools in the nation and offers a comprehensive academic curriculum at the undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels.
“As a Hispanic, it is great to attend UTSA where you feel at home and all the administrators and professors understand your background,” said Adolfo Soliz, current M.B.A. student at UTSA. “I can focus on school and my career without any unwelcome distractions. I hope to continue on to a great career using the resources UTSA has provided me.”
An active University Partner of the National Society for Hispanic M.B.A.s (NSHMBA) since 2009, the UTSA College of Business will serve as the lead academic sponsor for NSHMBA’s 25th Anniversary Annual Conference and Career Expo in San Antonio Oct. 10-12.
The UTSA College of Engineering provides world-class education and research opportunities to the region’s multicultural community, to the nation and beyond. One of the fastest-growing engineering schools in Texas, it offers academic programs in biomedical engineering, civil and environmental engineering, electrical and computer engineering, and mechanical engineering to more than 400 graduate students including 23 percent women, 24 percent minorities and 51 percent international students.
“In this nation of opportunities and equality, Hispanics have become a leading force in many fields. Most importantly, more and more Hispanics are pursuing graduate-level degrees because we are being encouraged and supported,” said Laura Gaviria, a biomedical engineering Ph.D. student at UTSA, who originally is from Colombia. “UTSA is helping close the educational gap by being actively involved in the success of its Hispanic students.”
Each year, Hispanic Business ranks the effectiveness of U.S. universities in attracting Hispanic students in the fields of medicine, business, engineering and law based on four criteria: enrollment of full-time Hispanic students, percentage of full-time Hispanic faculty members, percentage of degrees conferred to Hispanics and availability of programs aimed at increasing Hispanic student enrollment. This is the 15th year that HispanicBusiness has conducted the study.
UTSA recently was ranked No. 7 in the nation for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanics and No. 27 to all minorities by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. UTSA also is ranked No. 6 in the nation in the number of undergraduate and graduate degrees awarded to Hispanic students by The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education. UTSA also was among 27 higher education institutions across the nation honored in 2012 for its commitment to diversity by Minority Access Inc.
— KC Gonzalez, Public Affairs Specialist
