Education

US Hispanics are a very diverse population, not only different from all other cultures but also within themselves. Even with that diversity, there are some cultural aspects that are shared amongst US Hispanics, which can be used to characterize the population as a whole more or less accurately.

Culture generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. In more basic terms, culture is a concept, belief or experience that people pass to one another from generation to generation. Understanding culture has become pivotal in marketing to the US population, especially the Hispanic segment. US Hispanics are the largest growing minority in the United States. Because of their significant buying power, they have caught the eye of many marketers. However, marketers will not succeed in reaching this group without a thorough understanding of the US Hispanic culture. A comprehension of the values, attitudes, perceptions, beliefs, habits and behaviors that incorporate the US Hispanic culture is critical in order to efficiently and effectively reach this market.

I am a U.S. Hispanic consumer. However, while talking to other U.S. Hispanics I realized that as a group we are not predictable and cannot be targeted the same way. Considering myself as point of reference, I can say that I am Venezuelan, a bicultural kid, a student, a woman, smart, and short. I can say that I value loyalty and believe that family and friends are my best asset. I believe in being part of a community that needs me as much as I need it. If I were given the task to market a product or service to the U.S. Hispanic population, as a Hispanic, I would not know where to start.

Women made up 56 percent (about 8 million) of the undergraduate student population and 59 percent (about 2 million) of the graduate students in 2005, according to the latest data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau on school enrollment in the United States.

A new report by Excelencia in Education, in association with TRPI and the California Policy Research Center, proposes strategies for boosting Latino college enrollment.

While Hispanic students generally look on college and university Web sites to gather the same information as non-Hispanic students, there are some differences in their expectations regarding electronic communication, according to “Hispanic Students and the Web,” the second in a series of studies on E-Expectations.

A growing body of research is producing encouraging news about the performance of Hispanic students in public charter schools, according to an Issue Brief released today by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools at the Texas Charter School Conference in Houston.

Adults age 18 and older with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $51,554 in 2004, while those with a high school diploma earned $28,645, according to new tabulations released by the U.S. Census Bureau. Those without a high school diploma earned an average of $19,169.

The series of tables, Educational Attainment in the United States: 2005, also showed advanced-degree holders made an average of $78,093.

The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) announces the release of a new study titled College Scholarships for Latino Students: Are Opportunities Being Missed?, as well as online and print scholarship directories for California Latino students.

A team of business students from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University took top honors at the fifth annual Dell-Microsoft Marketing Case Competition, a commitment to diversity, education and professional development of Hispanic talent.