NOVA—Committed to Strengthening Latinx/Hispanic Community Through Education

This week, NOVA concludes its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, and my appreciation goes out to all who have contributed to this recognition of the histories, cultures and contributions of Latinx/Hispanic individuals. Yet, even as we honor this month, we are faced with troubling data about a significant drop in enrollment among Latinx/Hispanic students at NOVA, an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution.

This decline is not unique to our college: it is, unfortunately, being replicated across higher education. Its likely root cause: the pandemic. A July 2021 Pew Research study found that about a third of all Latinx/Hispanic individuals surveyed said they were challenged to meet their financial obligations and/or received help from a food bank since the outbreak of COVID-19, and the percent of those impacted was highest among college-aged adults (18-29). The same survey found that three in four Latinx/Hispanic parents were concerned that their children had fallen behind academically during the pandemic.

The effect on higher education enrollment was swift: as the Washington Post put it in January, “A steady stream of Latino students was arriving on college campuses. Then the pandemic hit.” A May 2021 report from Education Trust drew specific attention to pandemic-related declines at community colleges, especially among male students: enrollment at community colleges fell 10.6 percentage points overall and nearly 17 percentage points among Latinos, versus a decline of 6.2 percentage points for Latinas. These declines are particularly troubling, since over 52% of Hispanic higher-education students attend community colleges. The decline in first-time enrollment among Hispanic students — which sank nearly 20 percentage points across all sectors — should also ring alarm bells, since this group is one of the largest and fastest-growing segments of the U.S. population, and college attendance is strongly associated with better health, employment and economic outcomes. If we don’t take concerted steps to counter these declines, opportunity gaps in this country will only grow, and Hispanics will be left behind.

Education Trust’s analysis also found that current college degree attainment among Latinx/Hispanic individuals was less than half that of White individuals, making any decline in degree completion cause of concern. Thus, while the negative enrollment picture might be distressing for any one college, the real issue is much bigger: years of enrollment increases and higher education attainment gains for Latinx/Hispanic populations are at risk of being lost almost overnight.

Because of the connection between higher education attainment and income, this gap and its growth have long-term consequences. An example can be seen in the under-representation of Latinx/Hispanic individuals—who comprise about 19% of the U.S. population, a figure expected to grow to at least 30% in the next three decades—in STEM careers and managerial positions. This plays out locally: a March 2021 Brookings Institution report found that while Latinx/Hispanic individuals represent 16% of the Greater Washington workforce, they account for just 7% of those in the math/computing-based technology sector and 10% of those in managerial positions. Thus, when it comes to positions in the fastest growing and highest earning segments of the Northern Virginia economy, they are disproportionately on the outside looking in—which has real- world implications for their social and economic mobility and the economic health of the region.

Through NOVA’s commitment to inclusive excellence and access to opportunity, we can reverse this sudden and concerning trend. In the lead up to spring enrollment, the Enrollment Management and Student Success division is engaging in intentional and strategic outreach to Latinx/Hispanic communities, partnering with community-based agencies and associations. The goal is to listen to community members in order to learn what more NOVA can do: how can we make the path to our college—from first connection through to commencement—a supported and supportive one? If you have thoughts or ideas on this topic, please share them with interim VP for Enrollment Management and Student Success Syedur Rahman (syrahman@nvcc.edu) and CDEIO Nathan Carter (nacarter@nvcc.edu). You might also want to review Excelencia in Education’s discussion of the six culturally responsive efforts that make a real difference in supporting Latinx/Hispanic student success—many of them can be incorporated at the course/service level.

Thank you for making this Hispanic Heritage Month both a celebration of accomplishments and achievements and for helping to strengthen NOVA’s commitment to building the next generation of Latinx/Hispanic leaders and scholars!

For more on NOVA’s diversity efforts, visit the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion page on NOVA’s Website. There is much to do!