Letter from our President:
Dear Member and Guest,
As I travel around the country, it is a pleasure to inform Latinos and others about the Texas Association of Chicanos in Higher Education mission. TACHE is a unique organization in Texas; and nationally, there are few like it. The TACHE founders and leaders had a vision, tenacity, and an unquestionable work ethic that has helped TACHE flourish.
It is not news that Latinos are the fastest growing demographic in Texas. Based on 2006 U.S. Census Bureau quick facts, Latinos made up about 36% of the Texas and 15 % of the U.S. population. By 2020 the U.S. Census Bureau projects a 77% increase in the number of Latinos. Those statistics are impressive but are also a mandate....to work toward “Closing the Gaps” in the educational attainment of Latinos to ensure the economic well being of our communities.
In Texas our goal is to increase the higher education participation rate for Hispanics to 4.8% by 2010 and to 5.7% by 2015. Despite about 41% growth in Hispanic enrollment in the last six years, the overall participation rate is only 3.9%. To reach the 2010 target, Hispanic participation must increase by another 42%. In raw numbers, we had 96,670 Hispanics in higher education in Fall 2006 and the target for 2010 is 236,600. As for the success targets, Hispanics were on target in Fall 2006 for the number of bachelor and associate degrees and certificates (BACs) awarded, but it is projected that to keep up with the growing Hispanic population, to reach the 50,000 target for 2010, another 15,000 BACs will need to be conferred. (http://www.thecb.state.tx.us/reports/PDF/1377.PDF)
TACHE collaborates with you, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the Texas legislature, and other organizations to push for increased participation and success rates for Latinos. Thanks to our educational, corporate, and other partners for your support as we strive for healthy, financially stable, well-educated Latino local, state, and national communities. From all, I vigorously request advocacy:
- Analyze local, state, and national policies to determine their impact on Latinos;
- Work toward college readiness preparation for our Latinos K-12;
- Seek equitable funding for Hispanic-serving school districts and colleges;
- Promote and provide for curriculum and textbooks relevant to Latinos;
- Foster a college-going and success culture among Latinos and support our families;
- Donate to the TACHE scholarship fund;
- Utilize the Doctoral Incentive Loan Repayment Program www.thecb.state.tx.us;
- Participate in the 34th Annual TACHE Conference in Austin in 2009; and
- Visit www.tache.org often to learn how you can stay involved and contribute.
Best Regards,
Magdalena H. de la Teja, Ph.D., J.D. (aka: Maggie)
