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ILACHE is a statewide organization
dedicated to the advancement of the status of Latinos through
educational policy reform, identification of best practices, and the
dissemination of research and information.
The Mission of ILACHE
- To
create awareness of Latino higher education issues and advocate for
change.
- To
provide a statewide forum for Latino educators, community
representatives and others who are committed to Latino representation,
advancement and professional success.
Our History
On
October 30, 1986 a meeting was held at Roberto Clemente Community
Academy by University of Illinois administrators to explain and justify
the new admission requirements for undergraduate admissions. Over
1000 concerned parents, students and community members confronted
University of Illinois officials chanting “Open the Doors of U of I”.
The community was trying to drive home the message that their
communities were systematically being denied access to higher
education. Resultant of this meeting was a series of
meetings held by UIC officials, parents and community members on the
issues of Hispanic student access and retention at the university of
Illinois at Chicago. This activity led to the creation of the report
“Declining Minority Access to Higher Education”. Spurned on by the
recent community outcry and the findings of the report, on June 30,
1987 the Senate Joint Resolution 72 created a Joint Committee on
Minority Access to Higher Education, Co-Chaired by Senator Miguel del
Valle. One of the committee’s main functions was to analyze the
Chicago public schools’ college preparation programs and course
offerings and their relationship to the proposed undergraduate
admissions changes that the IBHE sought to implement by 1993. A
series of public hearings were held throughout Illinois beginning in
November of 1987 through December 1988. A final report was
generated and a series of recommendations were made.
A direct result was the creation of CACHE (Community Advisory Committee
on Higher Education). CACHE members were appointed by Senator
Miguel del Valle and included concerned Latino Educators in Higher
Education. CACHE held its first conference on April 30, 1988 under the
theme “Developing a Legislative Agenda for the 1990’s”. In 1993
the organization changed its name to ILACHE (Illinois Latino Council on
Higher Education) to more closely reflect the collective concerns of
Latinos in higher Education in the state of Illinois.
ILACHE Today
Today ILACHE
continues the important work of addressing the needs of the Latino
community and serves as an action oriented, independent advocacy group
for Latinos in higher education in the areas of access and equity as it
relates to employment, admissions, and legislation in the state of
Illinois. Through their annual conference they provide public
forums to provide networking opportunities to Latino higher education
professionals, and to create advocacy agendas, share best practices,
and to explore new ways of affecting legislative and university
policies. Striving for inclusion and voice ILACHE continues to
advocate for the needs of the Latino community and provides a statewide
forum for dialogue on issues in higher education.
Why is a Latino
Higher Education
Agenda Needed?
Changing
Demographics:
- Latinos are the largest minority in this country and are
growing at a rate of 1.1 million a year.
- In 2004, the Latino total population was 40.4
million representing an increase of 14%, while the non-Latino
population grew by 2%.
- In 2006, Latinos represented 15% of total US
population.
- It is estimated, by the year 2010 Latinos will
account for 18% of the total US population.
- These growth patterns are surpassing numerical and
statistical projections.
- Latino population growth in the state of Illinois
surpassed the nation’s growth of the Latino population by 11%.
- Illinois ranks fifth in the nation for Latino
population.
- The City of Chicago ranks among the top ten cities
in the U.S. with the largest Latino concentration, with Latinos
representing 26% of the city’s population.
Educational
Attainment:
- U.S. Schools will continue to experience growing Latino
enrollments and by 2020 Latino students will represent 24% of the 5-19
year old population.
- Despite significant progress, the educational attainment
of Latinos is well below the rest of the population.
- In 2006, 60% of Latino Adults 25 and older in Illinois
had graduated from High School compared to 92% of non-Latino whites.
- The Latino population is the least educated of the ethnic
or racial groups tying with Native American groups.
- Latinos are also more likely to attend community colleges
and the four-year colleges they do attend are more likely to be less
selective institutions.
- In 2006 only 11% of Latinos had competed four years of
college or more.
- Latinos are much less likely to be able to finish or
afford college.
- Less than 3% of all full-time faculty were Latino while
Latinos received only 3.5% of all doctorates awarded in 2006.
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