The Office of Diversity & Equity

Latino Vision Council

November 3, 2008Latino Vision Council Seeks to Open Doors

To fulfill its mission as a research and teaching institution, the University of Kansas must be representative of the people it serves. We seek and welcome students of all backgrounds because they help us create a rich learning environment.

The current KU student body is the most diverse on record, with 12.7 percent of our students representing minority groups. That’s encouraging, but we must continue to enhance the diversity of KU because it is our mission to serve the population of Kansas – a population that is growing more diverse every year.

September 9, 2008Council seeks to spur Hispanic enrollment

The Hispanic population is the largest minority population in the United States, but Hispanic students enrolled at the University has been stagnant over the past few years. Provost Richard Lariviere has created a council to find out why.

Hispanics are set to make up 30 percent of the United States’ population by 2050, according to the latest census data, but Hispanic enrollment has barely climbed above 3 percent at the University.

July 9, 2008Advisory council to help KU make college accessible to Latino families

Addressing an urgent need in the state, the University of Kansas is making a commitment to the growing number of Latino families to ensure college accessibility.

The Latino Vision Council, formed earlier this spring at the invitation of KU Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere, will identify strategies and actions that will guide the university in assisting this important segment of the state’s population.

“The University of Kansas is committed to serving the people of Kansas,” Lariviere said. “Part of that mission includes communicating the value of higher education. The members of the Latino Vision Council are highly respected in their communities and are well placed to help KU build trust with families who might not be familiar with all that a university has to offer. It takes effective leaders to build effective bridges.”

April 15, 2008KU taps leaders across Kansas for first meeting of Latino Vision Council

At the invitation of University of Kansas Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Richard Lariviere, Latino community leaders from across the state have formed the Latino Vision Council. The group held its first meeting April 4 on the KU campus.

Members of the Latino Vision Council will share their valuable insights and experiences with KU officials on the many challenges faced by Latino and Hispanic youths and their families as they contemplate KU and higher education.