UTSA programs rank prominently in national survey

(May 23, 2002)--For the fifth time in six years, a national survey of the nation's Hispanic-serving colleges and universities ranks the University of Texas at San Antonio first in the number of undergraduate degrees in the biological sciences awarded to Hispanics.

Overall, UTSA was No. 7 in total undergraduate degrees and 15th in master's degrees granted to Hispanics for the period surveyed, the1999-2000 academic year. Eight separate UTSA undergraduate degree-program areas placed among the top 10, including business and marketing and multi/interdisciplinary studies (both 3rd); protective services (5th), psychology (9th); all among the most popular discipline concentrations for Hispanic students. Other UTSA program leaders were architecture (5th), and mathematics and area studies (both 10th).

The results are reported in the May 6 issue of Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education in the publication's annual ranking of 100 predominantly Hispanic-serving colleges and universities in the United States and Puerto Rico.

Among universities with a Carnegie Classification, UTSA was No. 5 in total Hispanic enrollment. These classifications of higher education institutions, devised by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, are based on factors such as institution size, the level of degrees and fields of specialization offered, educational mission, number of doctoral degrees awarded annually and the amount of annual federal support for research and development. For the period surveyed, UTSA held a master's level I rating, denoting a comprehensive catalog of baccalaureate programs and the awarding of 40 or more master's degrees annually in three or more disciplines.

"These findings are significant for UTSA on several levels," said President Ricardo Romo. "To have our programs in the top 10 nationally in just under 50 percent of the 19 discipline concentrations surveyed reaffirms we are on track in our mission to serve students underrepresented in higher education. To have these statistics in four out of 10 areas identified by Hispanic Outlook as being among the most popular majors for Hispanic students is also positive," Romo said.

"UTSA has had a consistently strong record in the biological sciences category. This is important because Hispanics are underrepresented in the sciences and in the health care professions. Many of UTSA's undergraduate biology students continue their studies at the graduate level, going on to pursue careers in the health sciences, another of the most popular majors for Hispanic students," he added. "With our goal of attaining top-tier status as a Carnegie-level doctoral and research institution, we must keep moving in this direction."

In the survey, UTSA also ranked No. 5 in the overall percentage of Hispanic administrators and faculty (13.4 percent, comprising 40 of 170 managers and 103 of 771 faculty).

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