Texas Tech University System

Awards Issued Prior to January 20, 2025, Were Funded Under Previous Administrations and May Not Reflect the Priorities and Policies of the Current Administration. Secondary to Post-secondary Education Pipelines Have Been Successful in Bringing Hispanic Students to the Tertiary Classroom. However, Research Suggests That Leaks in the Pipelines Exist as These Programs Have Been Successful in Retaining Only 13% of Underrepresented Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Human Sciences (FANH) Students Through Baccalaureate Graduation (department of Education, 2018) and Propelling Even Fewer Students to Postgraduate Studies (taialli & Ortiz, 2017); the Statistics Are Even More Dire in Geographic Regions Suffering From Persistent Poverty (good & La Prad, 2013). While Targeted Interventions Geared Toward Retaining and Guiding Hispanic Students Toward Graduate School Exist, They Use an Intermediary to Connect the Undergraduate and Graduate Institutions (ghee, Et Al, 2016). in Areas of Persistent Poverty and Low College Degree Attainment, However, Regional Cooperation Between Institutions in the Educational Pipeline May Be Necessary to Enhancebaccalaureate Graduation Rates and Subsequent Enrollment in Graduate School.texas Tech University (TTU) and Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) Serve a Region That Is 57% Hispanic; 71% of High-school Graduates in the Region Are Hispanic, Yet Only 18% Enroll in a Baccalaureate Degree Program Following Graduation (texas Higher Education Data, 2018; New Mexico Higher Education Department, 2017). the Population of the Border Counties of New Mexico and Texas Has Notoriously Low College Degree Attainment - 15% of the Regional Populace Hold a BACHELOR'S Degree, Compared to State Averages of 28%, and a National Average of 34% (census, 2018A). the Lack of Degree Completion Contributes to the Persistent Levels of Poverty Observed Across the Region (good & La Prad, 2013).THERE Is an Urgent Regional Need to Form an Educational Pipeline That Both Retains Fanh Students in Their Baccalaureate Degree Programs While Guiding Them Towards Graduation and Subsequent Enrollment in a Graduate Degree Program. This Pipeline Program Will Increase College Retention Rates by 10% Through Its Integrated Programming That Taps Into Belonging, Mentoring, and Support Issues Identified by Fanh Students as Critical Components in Their Persistence Toward Degree Completion (wimmer & Meyers, 2013).