Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week
TTUHSC El Paso’s Largely Hispanic Personnel Propels University, Borderplex Forward
As a part of National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is proud to employ a Hispanic-majority faculty and staff, which is a crucial factor in empowering its students and the entire Borderplex community.
In 2018, the U.S. Department of Education recognized TTUHSC El Paso as a Title V Hispanic-Serving Institution, making it the second Health-Related Institution in the nation to receive the designation and the only one located on the U.S.-Mexico border. Seventy percent of university personnel, including faculty, identify as Hispanic. TTUHSC El Paso’s role in the community is vital as it serves 108 counties in West Texas that have been historically underserved.
“It’s refreshing to work at an institution that’s not only educating future health care heroes and leaders, but also one where our faculty and staff mirror the diversity of the student body,” said Andrea Tawney, Ph.D., vice president for Institutional Advancement. “It’s important for students to see themselves in the leadership here on campus. It plays a pivotal role in the success of their academics and career by empowering them to one day become leaders.”
TTUHSC El Paso’s diversity is key to the success of a student body that’s 48% Hispanic and often first-generation college students. In order to qualify as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the student body needs to be at least 25% Hispanic. According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions represent less than 20% of institutions but enroll two-thirds of all Latino undergraduates nationwide.
The U.S. Census Bureau predicts a continued climb in the number of Hispanic people in the nation, accounting for 25% of the population in 10 years. However, less than 6% of physicians in the U.S. identify as Hispanic. Same for registered nurses and dentists, according to the 2020 National Nursing Workforce Survey and American Dental Association Health Policy Institute, respectively. Additionally, only 8% of “medical scientists” identify as Hispanic, according to the most recent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
“Students of minority groups experience unique barriers and stressors that can impact their success in higher education,” said Christiane Herber-Valdez, Ed.D., assistant vice president for Academic Affairs. “As an HSI, we aim to foster a culture of belonging by creating inclusive, nurturing environments for Hispanic and other traditionally underserved students.”
Hispanic-Serving Institutions, similar to Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges and Universities, were identified and given an official designation by the U.S. Department of Eduation as higher education leaders started to recognize and address the gaps minority groups were experiencing in education. While programs and services are made to close those gaps, it’s also important to know that Hispanic-Serving Institutions are eligible for multimillion-dollar grants that benefit the entire community and student body – even those who are not Hispanic.
Another benefit of a Hispanic-Serving Institution with a strong base of Hispanic employees is the connection made with the local community. Those connections help create pipeline programs providing a clear path for young students to go on to become doctors, nurses, dentists and researchers. TTUHSC El Paso has partnerships with high schools throughout the city to expose students to various education programs offered by the university.
TTUHSC El Paso is also creating innovative programs such as Puentes Hacia El Exito (Bridges Toward Success), which aims to increase the number of Hispanic Bachelor of Science students at the Hunt School of Nursing through a $3 million federal grant. By strengthening existing relationships with local school districts, El Paso Community College, and community organizations like Project ARRIBA and the Desert Mountain Area Health Education Center, the program is increasing enrollment in the nursing school. Many graduates go on to teach the next generation of health care heroes.
“Our university’s mission is to the improved health of people in our community,” Dr. Herber-Valdez said. “When we train academically qualified and competitive students from our region, it increases the likelihood they will become professionals who practice in the Borderplex after graduation.”
Since 2012, the university has graduated 1,851 physicians, nurses and biomedical researchers. It will soon add dental school graduates to its alumni. Providing access to advanced education encourages graduates from the border region to work locally as health care providers – a critical need because El Paso County is designated as a Health Professional Shortage Area.
Over the course of a decade, El Paso County’s average number of direct care physicians per 100,000 people has gone from 75% less than the national average to only 50%. In that same time, the number of registered nurses in the county has increased by 45%.
“It’s vital that our community and staff see a path to leadership in an organization that embraces culture and diversity,” Dr. Tawney said. “That’s what makes us a model Hispanic-Serving Institution on the U.S.-Mexico border.”
About TTUHSC El Paso
TTUHSC El Paso was established to concentrate on the unique health care and educational needs of our region, focusing on preparing the next generation of health care leaders to serve our Borderplex community and beyond. In 2023, TTUHSC El Paso will celebrate its 10th anniversary as an autonomous university within the Texas Tech University System.