FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 27, 2006

Latino President of the University of New Mexico Resigns

San Antonio, TX – Louis Caldera, who on January 25 announced his resignation as president of the University of New Mexico (UNM), has served with distinction on the Board of Governors of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).  He was elected to the board on October 16, 2004. As one of the few Hispanic presidents of a top-tier, public, comprehensive research university in the U.S., Mr. Caldera also made history when he became the first Latino president of UNM in July 2003.  “HACU is grateful for Mr. Caldera’s contributions to UNM and to HACU over the past two and a half years,” said HACU’s President and CEO Antonio Flores.

Nationwide, Hispanics represent only 3 percent of all presidents/CEOs of colleges and universities while their enrollment surpasses 10 percent of the approximately 17 million higher education students, and now comprise nearly 15 percent of the nation’s total population.  The dearth of Hispanic presidents/CEOs is a national concern that HACU is addressing with the support of its membership of 450 colleges and universities.

HACU’s member institutions enroll nearly three of every four Hispanics in higher education across the country and Puerto Rico. Consistent with population trends and projections, HACU expects a continuing and rapid increase in Hispanic college enrollments in the years and decades ahead. This enrollment growth is projected to cause a significant increase in the number of HSIs and other institutions with high Hispanic enrollments that are the bulk of HACU’s membership.

“Because of its special standing among the community of HACU member institutions, UNM’s efforts to increase Hispanic representation in the student body, the faculty and staff ranks, and in executive positions are likely to stimulate other institutions to step up their own efforts for greater Hispanic inclusion and success,” added Flores.

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