Framing, Not Blaming: Improving Latino College Transfer in Texas

Framing, Not Blaming: Improving Latino College Transfer in Texas expands knowledge about Texas Latino students while providing higher education institutions and policymakers across the country with actionable information to help more Latino students graduate.

Stakeholders in Texas have diverse strategies to improve the pathways to college completion. However, too often discussion on transfer pathways focus on segments and stakeholders to blame for breaks in the pathway. The purpose of this brief is twofold: 1) to reframe the options to improve college pathways from blame to shared ownership and action, and, 2) to support discussions translating effective institutional practices into policy strategies that can improve the transfer pathway for Latino and other post-traditional students in Texas.

Core to this project and brief is new analysis of current transfer processes, practices and policies in the state and at the following Texas institutional pairs:

     • Alamo Colleges and The University of Texas at San Antonio
     • Austin Community College and Texas State University
     • El Paso Community College and The University of Texas at El Paso
     • Houston Community College and the University of Houston

The following areas between and within institutions are where state policy may improve Latino student transfer and success: transferability of credits, data sharing, access to financial aid, and, faculty involvement.

The project and brief were supported by the Greater Texas Foundation to apply the findings from an earlier national project to the development of policy approaches to improve Latino student transfer and success.

Hear directly from stakeholders including:

Jacob Fraire, President & CEO, Texas Association of Community Colleges

Donna Ekal, Associate Provost, University of Texas at El Paso

Francisco Solis, Dean of Performance Excellence, San Antonio College

Virginia Fraire, Vice President of Student Services, Austin Community College

Garrett Groves, Economic Opportunity Program Director, Center for Public Policy Priorities