SDSU Ranked Among Top 25 Colleges for Latinos
CONTACT: Timothy McKernan, (619) 594-5204, mckernan@mail.sdsu.edu
SAN DIEGO, Monday, March 27, 2000 - For the second consecutive year, San Diego State University ranks as one of the top institutions of higher learning for Latinos. Rankings of the top 25 such colleges and universities appearing in Hispanic magazine's March issue put SDSU on the list that also includes UC Berkeley, Stanford, UCLA and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
"Hispanic magazine's ranking is an indicator of the diverse student population at SDSU," said the University's president, Stephen L. Weber. "We are committed to creating a learning environment where students of all racial and ethnic identities can thrive academically."
The magazine considered several factors in determining the rankings, including Latino graduation rates, academic rankings, number of Hispanic-related degree programs, student organizations, and minority recruiting and support programs, and number of Hispanic faculty. In addition, colleges "needed to show that their student bodies were reflective of the overall United States population of Hispanics."
Weber said diversity is a cornerstone of SDSU's educational mission.
"A university grows in direct proportion to its attention to basic values, individual freedom, and human ideals in a diverse, multicultural setting," he said. "Our commitment to diversity enriches our institution and provides an atmosphere that values all human potential. Diversity is an essential value of SDSU because it encourages learning and dialogue among people with different backgrounds, abilities and perspectives."
San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region. Since it was founded in 1897, SDSU has grown to offer bachelor's degrees in 76 areas, master's degrees in 58 areas and doctorates in 11. The more than 30,000 students participate in an academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with professors and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future. For more complete information on SDSU's student demographics, visit http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/institutional-research/studentchar.html.
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