Spring Break
Recession threatens Latino program
Geoff Berkheimer
Issue date: 11/24/08 Section: News
Media Credit: Rep. Martin SandovalUIC administrators Tanner, Gislason, and Snow (pictured left to right) hold a panel discussion on the future of LARES.
The future of the Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES) program remains uncertain due to the possibility of a university-wide rescission, according to a State Legislature proposal.
Although not yet official, the State Legislature proposed a rescission of approximately five percent of the UIC operating budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The budget cut has the possibility of affecting the LARES program.
The LARES program was founded in 1975 to "assist UIC in the recruitment of Latinos and to provide academic support to increase their chances for success." Over the years, LARES has built a strong reputation for dedication to their students and to the Latino community.
Today, more Latinos graduate from UIC than any other university in the Midwest. Roughly 74 percent of the university's 3,400 Latino students receive some kind of aid or counseling from the LARES program.
Yet according to Huge Teruel, Associate Director of LARES, the program's operating budget fails to cover such basics as phone bills and copier costs. Most of the overall budget, he says is allocated to salaries for 11 counselors and "has not covered cost of living increases."
LARES overall budget is currently $600,000, an increase of 21 percent over the past five years according to Mark Rosati, vice provost of Public Affairs. LARES's operating budget, however, is about $9,000, one half of what that budget was 15 years ago.
LARES budget problems and community influence were front and center during the Latino Legislative Caucus on Oct. 28, held at the UIC Forum.
The caucus was called in an attempt to open dialogue between Chicago-area State Legislators and UIC administrators including Chancellor Eric Gislason, Vice Chancellor R. Michael Tanner and Vice Provost Carole Snow. Attendees wore T-shirts that read "LARES: Keep the Doors Open."
Those present voiced concern that UIC's stagnant annual enrollment of about 550 Latino freshmen has come to be unrepresentative of the Latino population both in the city and in the state of Illinois.
Latino population in Illinois grew almost 70 percent between 1990 and 2000. The legislative hearing also cited that the number of Latino high school graduates increased dramatically in recent years.
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Although not yet official, the State Legislature proposed a rescission of approximately five percent of the UIC operating budget for the 2009-2010 school year. The budget cut has the possibility of affecting the LARES program.
The LARES program was founded in 1975 to "assist UIC in the recruitment of Latinos and to provide academic support to increase their chances for success." Over the years, LARES has built a strong reputation for dedication to their students and to the Latino community.
Today, more Latinos graduate from UIC than any other university in the Midwest. Roughly 74 percent of the university's 3,400 Latino students receive some kind of aid or counseling from the LARES program.
Yet according to Huge Teruel, Associate Director of LARES, the program's operating budget fails to cover such basics as phone bills and copier costs. Most of the overall budget, he says is allocated to salaries for 11 counselors and "has not covered cost of living increases."
LARES overall budget is currently $600,000, an increase of 21 percent over the past five years according to Mark Rosati, vice provost of Public Affairs. LARES's operating budget, however, is about $9,000, one half of what that budget was 15 years ago.
LARES budget problems and community influence were front and center during the Latino Legislative Caucus on Oct. 28, held at the UIC Forum.
The caucus was called in an attempt to open dialogue between Chicago-area State Legislators and UIC administrators including Chancellor Eric Gislason, Vice Chancellor R. Michael Tanner and Vice Provost Carole Snow. Attendees wore T-shirts that read "LARES: Keep the Doors Open."
Those present voiced concern that UIC's stagnant annual enrollment of about 550 Latino freshmen has come to be unrepresentative of the Latino population both in the city and in the state of Illinois.
Latino population in Illinois grew almost 70 percent between 1990 and 2000. The legislative hearing also cited that the number of Latino high school graduates increased dramatically in recent years.
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