NSU Ranks No. 1 in the Nation in Awarding Doctoral Degrees to Hispanics for Third Consecutive Year

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – The Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education Magazine ranked Nova Southeastern University (NSU) as the number one institution in the nation in the number of doctoral degrees awarded to Hispanics. The ranking was published in the magazine’s 2011 “Top 100 Colleges for Hispanics” edition.

For the third consecutive year, NSU earned the top spot on the list for doctoral degrees, with 266 degrees conferred on Hispanic students out of the 1,806 conferred in total, which represents 15 percent of Nova’s doctoral and first-professional degrees granted.

“We are very proud of our number one ranking by Hispanic Outlook,” said Nova Chancellor Ray Ferrero, Jr. “We are constantly trying to find ways to best serve all parts of our community and this ranking is a result of our efforts to be inclusive of South Florida’s Hispanic community.”

Twenty-two percent of Nova’s students classify themselves as Hispanic, according to the latest numbers available from 2010, a six percent increase from five years prior. Thirty-two percent of the university’s undergraduate population is Hispanic.

“NSU has received approximately $11.11 million in Title V grants in the past several years, allowing the university to expand our programs and reach more people,” said Dr. Larry A. Calderon, Ed.D., vice president of community and governmental affairs and professor of higher education administration.  “The grants include enhancing program and academic opportunities for graduate students and increasing academic opportunities for Hispanic and other minority students.”

Most recently, a $2.87 million Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education was received in 2010 to increase academic opportunities for Hispanic students and other minorities. The five-year grant is designed to help more students succeed in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). More specifically, the grant aims to increase enrollment, retention and graduation rates of Hispanics and other students at NSU’s Oceanographic Center, which focuses heavily on science and research.

Data from the federal government indicates that graduation rates in STEM-oriented programs for Hispanics, African Americans, and Native Americas are disproportionately low.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Title V grant program helps eligible institutions of higher education enhance and expand their capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen academic quality. The grants are awarded to colleges and universities that serve Hispanic students.

Hispanic Outlook used data collected from the National Center for Education Statistics to compile the rankings. The rankings for degrees awarded were based on 2010 data. The full report is available on Hispanic Outlook’s website here: http://www.hispanicoutlook.com/top100.htm

About Nova Southeastern University: Located in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited Florida University dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 29,000 students and is the seventh largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The University awards associate’s, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialist, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences.  Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU was also awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification in 2010 for the University’s significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement.   For more information about NSU visit www.nova.edu.

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Contact:
Brandon Hensler
NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5385/5170 Office
954-393-5926 Cell
Brandon.Hensler@nova.edu