In 1963, Bob Dylan wrote and sang about how “The Times They Are A-changing.” The lyrics referred to the events of the 1960s that resulted in major change. Today, those same lyrics can be applied to major changes occurring in the demographics of our country — especially the “changing” student population in higher education.
With more Hispanic students entering higher education institutions, colleges are taking deliberate and strategic action to ensure their academic success. One community college, Morton College (Cicero, Ill.), has been highly successful in improving the academic success of its Hispanic students. Morton College is Illinois’ top producer — and 91st nationally among two-year institutions — of degrees granted to Hispanics in all disciplines, according to a June 16, 2008, report by Community College Week. The 2008 report states that Morton College issued 213 associate degrees to Hispanics during the 2006-07 academic year — a 63 percent increase since the Week’s 2003 report. Clearly, Morton College’s efforts to recruit and retain Hispanic students have been successful.
Morton College, considered the most Hispanic- friendly school in the Midwest, serves a student population of approximately 5,050, of whom 78 percent are Hispanic. The college offers a wide range of programs and has exceptional facilities, including a state-ofthe- art library, science laboratories, technology- friendly classrooms and Student Success Center. Morton has received both local and national recognition for innovative student service programs, publications and outreach to students —specifically outreach initiatives involving Hispanic students and other potential students. Following are some of Morton’s innovative, most effective approaches.
Midnights at Morton. This is an 8 a.m. to midnight registration marathon that includes not only all aspects of the student registration process in one location, but campus tours, open bookstore, music, entertainment and food donated by local restaurants and food stores for students and their families. This welcoming approach relieves what is too often a long, tedious, confusing and intimidating process — especially for the students who are the first in their family to attend college, which is often the case for Hispanic students.
Administrators, staff and faculty who organize and direct the event wear welcome badges that include their name and the languages they speak. All required paperwork, including financial aid forms, are available in Spanish as well as English, which is key to setting a welcoming tone. Again, the emphasis is on providing a registration process that facilitates student success with the promotion of college programs and support systems.
Aspects of Midnights at Morton that are critical in this regard include:
