By Christopher Maldonado
CCC Journalism Program
BLACKWOOD – The U.S. Department of Education recently designated Camden County College as a Hispanic Serving Institution. This means the college passed a minimum percentage of Hispanic students enrolled as full-time students.
To be eligible for such recognition, schools must have a minimum of 25% of students who are Latino or Hispanic by the end of the school year after they apply. Over the last few years, the number of Hispanic students enrolled at Camden County College has steadily increased, leading the college to be recognized for this milestone as they become one of the state’s and one of the nation’s Hispanic Serving Institutions. The designation also shows that Camden County College is willing to serve Camden County and the surrounding areas well.
Camden County College student Jillina Solis was happy to learn of the designation. “If anything, I think it could be advertised more because I didn’t even know about it,” Solis stated.
Camden County College will join the other Hispanic-serving institutions in the state, such as Hudson County Community College, Passaic Community College and Rutgers University in Newark. Despite Camden County College’s Hispanic enrollment steadily growing, Hudson County Community College has had a historically high number of Hispanic students enrolled for years, with one of the highest Hispanic student populations in the state, about 52%.
There are 600 Hispanic-serving institutions in the country including in the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, with approximately 5.2 million students enrolled. Most Hispanic Serving Institutions are located in seven states, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Illinois, California, Texas and Florida, as well as the territory of Puerto Rico.
With this designation, Camden County College is eligible to apply for various grants and programs that include certain Federal Title V grants. That allows for the college or any other Hispanic Serving Institution to expand its academic offerings, as well as to enhance their program quality and institution stability. By securing additional funding, the college can invest in faculty development, improve campus facilities and create new opportunities for student engagement.
Camden County College student Michelle Leon considered the designation to be a beneficial thing for the college. “I think they do a pretty good job of inclusion and representation but it is important because it makes everyone feel safe and included,” Leon stated.