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When you get a moment, go over and check out my latest guest blog over at GURConnect – “Establishing Hispanic Affinity Groups.” It discusses some things employers should consider when thinking about estblishing a Hispanic employment group within the company. A big component in targeting and retaining the Hispanic workforce.  Enjoy!

Vista Hispano shares a great post regarding the “Fibers of Multiculturalism” on its blog. Here again, as in earlier posts, much of what this blog post discusses can easily be used as a learning opportunity for employers looking to expand their Hispanic college recruiting efforts. Here are the three main ideas that I think can be incorporated into any Hispanic college recruitment strategy:

Recognition – Understanding that various cultures in our society offer a wealth of positive and diverse elements that can help further the health and quality of life in America.

Participation – Make an effort to join the conversations and participate in activities that allow for a multicultural society.

Amplification – Where the synergy takes place and allows for increased assimilation and diversity.

I’ve written about each of these concepts at different times through out this blog – but their blog post does a great job of reinforcing these ideas in short and simple way. Thanks for sharing!

Not sure how I missed this great article in Diverse Issues in Higher Education from a couple weeks ago regarding the diversity of faculty in Science, Technology, and Engineering, and Math (STEM). The article focuses on the results a MIT self-study showing that while one quarter of MIT’s 2013 class represents students from underrepresented minority backgrounds, less than four percent of faculty represent U.S.-born minorities. Certainly, MIT might not be the only university that lacks diversity in its faculty minority representation, but the school does receive more attention given its innovative and progressive reputation.

The small numbers of minority students and faculty in STEM careers is a national problem. According to IEEE – over 78% of workers in STEM fields are white males.

 A 2005 study also that women faculty in the top 50 research universities are underrepresented at all ranks, especially as full professors. The study also revealed that underrepresented minority women are almost non-existent in science and engineering departments at research universities. There are obviously many challenges facing women and minority students AND faculty in the science and engineering fields.

What this article demonstrates is that higher education has yet to make addressing this issue a priority. It will take a long-term commitment to reverse this on-going trend. It requires that a college’s institutional culture reflect its values by identifying and addressing potential barriers facing minorities and women in STEM fields.

American Express is coming out doing some great things with Latina leaders in conjunction with the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI) in an an effort to address the underrepresentation of Latina professionals in the nonprofit sector. A new program will:

…prepare, promote and sustain the next generation of nonprofit leaders by helping young Latina professionals develop their leadership and management skills, find their voice as effective community leaders, and build their external networks; and by providing access to role models and mentors.

Good going AMEX – now I’ll love my AMEX card just a bit more.

The El Paso Times discusses a topic that I’ve been hearing more about in online forums and in the media regarding Hispanics and racial categorization. Given that an increasing number of people in the U.S. can be described as multi-racial – the question of race can be an important social and cultural issue for many Hispanics who complete the census. And while the goal of the census is not self-expression, certainly someone having to choose ONE racial category, when they’re not, might infringe upon their sense of identity.

A couple months ago, this issue was the topic of a conversation I had with someone as part of a study I’m conducting. While this person considers himself to be Hispanic, his physical appearance is very much that of an African American. He described how this dichotomy created some internal confusion as well as awkwardness in the workplace, particularly in regards to being part of affinity groups or minority professional organizations.  The 2010 will provide a wealth of data when it comes to the presence of Hispanics in the United States; however, I think it can also provide some lessons in incorporating the philosophy of multiculturalism into our society and workplaces. The results of the census will be an opportunity for organizations to integrate and profit from the understanding that Americans are truly becoming more global and multicultural in nature.

Last month I discussed how Hispanics taking AP classes for college credit was on the rise. While work remained, overall Hispanics have been making impressive gains in obtaining college credit while still in high school. Today, another indication that this a postive trend with New Mexico’s class of 2009 leading the nation in the percentage of Hispanic students who earned a score of 3-5 on at least one Advanced Placement exam. More stats on their success after the jump. Way to go New Mexico – thanks for leading the way!

My new guest blog post regarding Simpatia over at InternMatters (via Internships.com) is up for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

More students are choosing NOT to major in business , over 6 million (or 4.1% of) workers have been unemployed for more than 26 weeks (and still want a job), the economic downturn will change the everything having to do with “work”, we are  having debates about whether or not we need MORE college graduates, and when 1.2 million unemployed workers lose their unemployment benefits. Good news – 7/10 workers think they have the ideal job. : )

Today seemed to bring a lot of news regarding the under-representation of minorities in a lot of environments. This article on CUNY regarding how its students mirror the multihued demographics of the city’s 8.3 million population -yet two-thirds of its faculty is white. AmericanLawyer.com reports that 2009 was not a good year for minorities in large law firms – the industry is actually becoming LESS diverse – along with architectural firms. However, George Washington University can boast that it employs 2 percent more minority faculty members than the national average. Really, when 2% more minority faculty is seen as a good thing – there’s definitely more work needing to be done. Read

Last week, after failing to find a buyer for the brand, General Motors announced that it was officially dropping the Hummer. And while many of you, like me, probably wondered why it took so long to make this decision, consider that at one time GM offered people that purchased Hummers and other oil guzzling cars, gas cards to help subsidize (or better yet, justify) the use of these mammoth vehicles. I’m sure future case studies will analyze and dissect the history of the Hummer – but what lessons can we draw from this story as it relates to college recruiting?  When you consider how the current economic environment has already impacted college recruiting, one can draw similarities between the challenges of the auto industry and college recruiting. Particularly as it relates to the era AFTER the storm.

Take for instance the example of the Hummer’s architect – GM. As it entered bankruptcy, the organization said it would become a lean and smaller company; that it would conduct business differently. Indeed, GM has discarded many of its brands and attempted to whittle down its bureaucratic and traditional structure and replace it with something more focused and nimble. Instead of creating new vehicles using the same tired marketing approach, GM has pledged to pay more attention and be responsive to its consumers. While the jury is still out on whether or not this approach will work, there is certainly some merit in their attempt to improve. So what lessons can college recruiting draw from GM’s ordeal? How will the industry (college recruiting) need to change in lieu of economic events? Here are some thoughts: Read more…