UTA expands recruiting efforts targeting exceptional Latino students with ApplyUTA
ARLINGTON, Texas -- The University of Texas at Arlington today announced ApplyUTA, an initiative to identify and assist exceptional college-ready students in the Latino community interested in enrolling at UTA for the 2016-17 school year.
Through ApplyUTA, students will have an opportunity to meet in-person with UTA faculty and staff knowledgeable about the recruitment, admissions, and financial aid process at a series of upcoming events on and off-campus.
“We believe in giving excellence every opportunity to succeed, and we want to partner with the Latino community, businesses and others to let Hispanic high school students in our region know that if they want to make their dreams of attaining a college education a reality, we’re here to help them,” said UTA President Vistasp M. Karbhari.
The first ApplyUTA event will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at the Latino Cultural Center, 2600 Live Oak St., Dallas. Students and their families will be able to receive help with financial aid applications, information about obtaining high school transcripts, and other items that must be processed for admission.
UTA will also provide the Residual ACT, free of charge, at 10 a.m. Aug. 10-11 at University Hall, Room 121, 600 S. Nedderman Drive. Registration is required at utatesting.timetrade.com. The ACT comes in two versions, Residual and National. The Residual ACT is only valid at the school where it is taken and scored.
Other community events focused on ApplyUTA will be held in Arlington, Carrollton-Farmer’s Branch, Fort Worth, Garland, Grand Prairie, Irving, Lewisville and Plano. Visit www.uta.edu/admissions/applyuta soon for more information. Join the conversation on Twitter using #ApplyUTA.
“Many students have already started the application process for admission to UTA, but for countless reasons, didn’t complete it,” said Dara Newton, executive director for University Recruitment. “We are mounting ApplyUTA to work with the community and regional partners to let such students know that it is never too late to begin.”
Designated in 2014 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the University is committed to making an affordable and excellent college education available to traditionally underserved communities. According to the National Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Hispanics represent 17.3 percent of the U.S. population. Just 15 percent have a bachelor’s degree compared to 35 percent for non-Hispanic whites.
Maria Martinez-Cosio, assistant vice provost for Faculty Affairs, who directs a new $2.62 million federal HSI initiative for Hispanic and nontraditional students, said ApplyUTA aligns with the University’s Strategic Plan 2020: Bold Solutions | Global Impact.
“As the fifth-most diverse college in the nation and one of the largest public institutions of higher education in Texas, it’s our responsibility to provide the fast-growing Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex with educated and career-ready graduates,” Martinez-Cosio said. “The megacity of the future depends on us.”
Michele Bobadilla, senior associate vice president for Outreach Services and Community Engagement and assistant provost for Hispanic Student Services, underscored the importance of an educated and workforce-ready Hispanic population.
“This is about our families, improving their economic futures, and abilities to contribute meaningfully to our state and beyond,” Bobadilla said. “Statistics also show that college-educated individuals live healthier lives and have improved social and cultural experiences.”
About The University of Texas at Arlington
The University of Texas at Arlington is a Carnegie Research-1 “highest research activity” institution of about 55,000 students in campus-based and online degree programs and is the second-largest institution in The University of Texas System. U.S. News & World Report ranks UTA fifth in the nation for undergraduate diversity. The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is ranked as the top four-year college in Texas for veterans on Military Times’ 2016 Best for Vets list. Visit www.uta.edu to learn more, and find UTA rankings and recognition at www.uta.edu/uta/about/rankings.php.
For more on the Strategic Plan, see www.uta.edu/strategicplan/.
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