Oklahoma City’s Emerging Hispanic Community: New Partnerships, New Successes

Authors

  • Mark A. Kinders University of Central Oklahoma
  • Myron L. Pope University of Central Oklahoma

Keywords:

University of Central Oklahoma, Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Latino Faculty Staff Association, Latino Community Development Association, College-going Hispanic Students.

Abstract

The University of Central Oklahoma’s new strategic plan sought to increase its connection to the emerging Hispanic community in Oklahoma City. Simultaneously, the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was seeking a higher education partner. This case study describes resulting new programs for Hispanic students and businesses. The relationship inspired the newly formed UCO Latino Faculty & Staff Association to connect UCO to the Hispanic community while providing greater opportunities for Hispanic student success.

Author Biographies

Mark A. Kinders, University of Central Oklahoma

Mark A. Kinders is the UCO vice president for public affairs, with responsibility for state, federal, community, local government, and business relations. He was the Cabinet coordinator to UCO’s strategic planning process resulting in Vision 2020, and he coordinated implementation of UCO’s sponsorship of the classroom/conference room at the Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

Myron L. Pope, University of Central Oklahoma

Myron L. Pope is the UCO vice president for student affairs, with responsibility for departments that provide opportunities for student development and enrollment management services. He has been instrumental in leading the campus’ strategic enrollment management processes and in developing collaborative programming in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area that are conducive to student recruitment and success.

References

ACT, Inc. (2009). The condition of college readiness 2009. Retrieved from http://www.act.org/research/policymakers/pdf/TheConditionofCollegeReadiness.pdf.

Barker, S. (2012). 2012 Demographic state of the state report. Oklahoma Department of Commerce. Retrieved from http://www.odoc.gov.

Borgerding, K. (2012). Hispanic populations surges statewide. Oklahoma watch. Retrieved from http://oklahomawatch.org/2012/11/29/hispanic-population-surges-statewide/.

Brown, A., & Lopez, M. (2013). Mapping the Latino population, by state, county and city. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic.

Crisp, G., & Amaury, N. (2010). Hispanic student success: Factors influencing the persistence and transfer decisions of Latino community college students enrolled in developmental education. Research in Higher Education, 51, 175-194. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11162-009-9151-x.

Cabrera, A. F., Amaury N., & Castaneda, M. N. (1993). College persistence: Structural equation modeling test of an integrated model of student retention. Journal of Higher Education, 64(2), 123-137. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/2960026.

Castellanos, J., & Jones, L. (2003). The majority in the minority: Expanding representation of Latina/a faculty, administrators and students in higher education. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

Excelencia in Education. (2015a). Hispanic Serving Institutions: 2013-14. Retrieved from http://www.edexcelencia.org.

Excelencia in Education. (2015b). Emerging HSIs by location: 2013-14. Retrieved from http://www.edexcelencia.org.

Excelencia in Education. (2015c). Latino college completion United States. Retrieved from http://www.edexcelencia.org.

Excelencia in Education. (2015d). What works for Latino student in Higher education compendium. Retrieved from http://www.edexcelencia.org.

Gloria, A. M., & Robinson Kurpius, S. E.. (1996). The Validation of the cultural congruity scale and the university environment scale with Chicano/a students. Hispanic Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 18(4), 533-549. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/07399863960184007.

Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (2015a). The changing demographics of Oklahoma. Power point presentation. Retrieved from http://www.okchispanicchamber.org.

Greater Oklahoma City Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. (2015b). Association website. Retrieved from http://www.okchispanicchamber.org.

Institute for Child Advocacy. (2013). Changing demographics: A catalyst for a pro-growth Oklahoma. Retrieved from oica.org/wp-content/.../12/Changing-Demographics-Brief-FINAL1.pdf.

Harkavy, I. (1999). School-Community-University partnerships: Effectively integrating community building and education reform. University and Community Schools, 6(½), 7-24. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234596919_School-Community-University_Partnerships_Effectively_Integrating_Community_Building_and_Education_Reform.

Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. (2012). 1986-2011: 25 Years of championing Hispanic higher education: A historical review and a glimpse into the future.” Retrieved from http://www.hacu.net

Holland, B. A. (1999). Factors and strategies that influence faculty involvement in public service. The Journal of Public Service and Outreach, 4, 37-43. Retrieved from http://openjournals.libs.uga.edu/index.php/jheoe/article/viewFile/1595/914.

Holland, B. A., & Gelmon, S. B. (1998). The state of the engaged campus: What have we learned about building and sustaining University and community partnerships? AAHE Bulletin, 3-6.

Jenkins, F. (2009). TRPI study finds Latino children must become a top education priority. Hispanic Outlook, 19, 35-36.

Krogstad, J. (2015a). Five facts about Latinos and education. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/05/26/5-facts-about-latinos-and-education/.

Krogstad, J. (2015b). Hispanics, blacks enrolling in college, but last in bachelor’s degrees. Pew Research Center. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/04/24/more-hispanics-blacks-enrolling-in-college-but-lag-in-bachelors-degrees/.

Lavandara, E., & Tracy Sabo, T. (2011). Culture clash as Oklahoma’s Hispanic population surges. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/04/05/oklahoma.latino.native/.

Leiderman, S., Furco, A., Zapf, J., & Goss, M. (2002). Building partnerships with college campuses: Community perspectives. Washington, DC: The Council of Independent Colleges. Retrieved from http://www.cic.edu/News-and-Publications/CIC-Books-and-Reports/Documents/engaging_monograph.pdf.

Llopis, G. (2012). Big data shows the growing influence of Hispanics will change business models. Forbes Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2012/12/05/big-data-shows-the-growing-influence-of-hispanics-will-change-business-models/.

Lopez, M., & Fry, R. (2013). Among recent high school grads, Hispanic college enrollment rate surpasses that of whites. Retrieved from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/09/04/hispanic-college-enrollment-rate-surpasses-whites-for-the-first-time/.

Neu, R. (2014). Oklahoma city schools statistical profile, 2013-14. Retrieved from http://www.okcps.k12.ok.us/Portals/OKCPS/District/docs/About %20OKCPS/PRE %20Stat %20Profile %2012-9-14 %20GoogleWeb.pdf.

Oseguera, L., Locks, A. M., & Vega, I. I. (2009). Increasing Latina/o students' baccalaureate attainment: A focus on retention. Journal of Hispanic Higher Education, 8(1), 23-50.

Peet, M. (2015 accepted). Transforming students’ beliefs: Increasing soft skills and employability through the integrative knowledge portfolio process,” Journal of Transformative Learning, 3, 2 Retrieved from https://jotl.uco.edu/index.php/jotl/article/view/115/60.

Peet, M., Lonn, S., Gurin, P., Boyer, P. K., Matney, M., Marra, T., Taylor, S. H., & Daley, A. (2011). Fostering integrative knowledge through eportfolios.” International Journal of ePortfolio, 1(1), 11-31. Retrieved from http://www.theijep.com/pdf/ijep39.pdf.

Perry, D., & Menendez, C. (2011). The impact of institutions of higher education on urban and metropolitan areas: Assessment of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities. The Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago. Retrieved from http://community-wealth.org/sites/clone.community-wealth.org/files/downloads/report-perry-menendez.pdf.

Postsecondary Education Opportunity. (2012). Hispanics and higher education, 244, 1-24. Retrieved from www.postsecondary.org.

Ramaley, J. (2015). Education for a changing world: The importance of an equity mindset. Metropolitan Universities Journal, 25(5), 5-15. http://dx.doi.org/10.12806/v14/i4/i1.

Rivera, E. M., & Monzon, R. I. (2013). Ensuring Latina/o college student success: A data-driven approach.” Metropolitan Universities, 24(2), 71-90. Retrieved from http://journals.iupui.edu/index.php/muj/article/viewFile/20548/20145.

Torres, V. (2006). Bridging two worlds: Academia and Latina/o identity." In Castellanos, J., Gloria, A. M., and Kamimura (Eds.), The Latina/a Pathway to the Ph.D.: Abriendo Caminos, edited by, M. 135-147. Sterling, VA: Stylus.

U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts. 2014. Oklahoma City. Retrieved from http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/40000.html.

University of Central Oklahoma. (2013). Vision 2020 executive summary. Retrieved from https://www.uco.edu/central/strategicplanning/files/UCOStrategicPlanningSummary.pdf.

University of Central Oklahoma Office of Institutional Research. (2016). Spring 2016 demographics book. Retrieved from http://www.uco.edu/academic-affairs/ir/files/2016%20Spring%20Demo%20Book.pdf.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2014). May 2014 state occupational employment and wage estimates: Oklahoma. Retrieved from http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_ok.htm.

Venezia, A., Kirst, M., & Antonio, A. L. (2003). Betraying the college dream: How disconnected K-12 and postsecondary education systems undermine student aspirations, final policy brief. Stanford, Calif.: The Bridge Project, The Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research.

Vidal, A. C., Nye, N., Walker, C., Manjarrez, C., Romanik, C., Corvington, P., Ferryman, K., Freiberf, S., & Kim, D. (2003). Lessons from the community outreach partnership center program: Final report. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute. Retrieved from https://www.huduser.gov/publications/pdf/lessons_complete.pdf.

Walshok, M. L. (1995). Knowledge with boundaries: What America’s research universities can do for the economy, the workplace, and the community. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Wilson, J. (2014). Investing in English skills: The limited English proficient workforce in U.S. metropolitan areas. Retrieved from http://www.brookings.edu/metro.

Zlotkowski, E. (1999). Pedagogy and Engagement. In Bringle, R. and Duffy, D. (Eds.), Colleges and Universities as Citizens. Boston: Allyn and Bacon (pp. 96-120).

Downloads

Published

2016-11-16

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2016): Campus and Community in Shared Spaces

Section

Research Articles