Community colleges fill graduation gaps

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Ivy Tech boasts a high number of Latino graduates from its Lafayette campus.

As News Channel 18 reported earlier in the week, Purdue University has large gaps in graduating Latino and Hispanic students. To read the full story click here.

Many local community colleges are filling the gaps in these graduation rates.

Director of admissions at Ivy Tech, Ivan Hernandez, said that last year Latinos accounted for 3.4% of the graduating class. Hernandez said Latinos currently make up 4% of the enrolled student body at Ivy Tech in Lafayette.

Hernandez said there are many reasons why Latinos and Hispanics turn to community colleges instead of larger universities like Purdue.

"If you look at national numbers Hispanics go to community college. There is a lot of information out there that shows Latino students tend to go to community college to stay closer to the communities where they are from," said Hernandez.

Hernandez also said that many Hispanics and Latinos struggle financially to fund college, but have an aversion to seeking financial aid.

"The immigrant culture, they don't want to come to a country and start feeding off the country so to speak. They come here to work and that mentality is something that we have to deal with because a lot of students feel like financial aid isn't something that they have a right to. They feel it's a hand out. They really shy away from loans," said Hernandez.

"I've seen some people struggle a lot finance wise. I don't notice it a lot. I know some have to work. They can't go to school full time because they have to work. When you only go part time you can't get financial aide. Some work two jobs," said Latina student, Jazmine Luckey.

Luckey said she herself struggles somewhat financially to fund a college education and is involved in a work study program. Luckey hopes to one day go on to Purdue University to finish her education.

Hernandez said he is very happy to have such a strong Latino population at the campus, but would like to see more students continue their education at large universities like Purdue.