Tapping Latino Talent: How HSIs Are Preparing Latino Students for the Workforce

Latino degree attainment and skill development are important to the nation's need for a competitive workforce and strong civic leadership. To help Latino students enter and be competitive in the workforce, trendsetting institutions are adapting their efforts to support students' strengths and meet their needs. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) enroll the majority of Latino students (over 65 percent) and thus can play an integral part in Latino students' academic success and workforce preparation. With collaboration with four HSIs, there is recognition that institutions have a role in both supporting their changing student bodies and connecting to workforce, and they are taking concrete steps to address. Five common strategies of the institutions' efforts were consistent and are detailed in this brief: (1) Workforce preparation is a goal across campus, not just the role of the career services offices; (2) The institutions have adapted to changes in workforce demands and changes in their student bodies; (3) Institutions are emphasizing experiential learning opportunities in and outside the classroom to expand access to hands-on learning; (4) Institutions are revamping their workforce efforts based on data and using data to continually evolve; and (5) The institutions work with local employers to meet the needs of the region and make the transition from school to work easier for their students. This brief was ready for release in March 2020. Given the impact of COVID-19 on these communities, institutions, and workforce, the authors reached back out to the four institutions to share additional efforts and updated this brief for release.