DeVry launches Hispanic scholars program

NAPERVILLE - DeVry University has established a NextGen Hispanic Scholars Program that is designed to help Hispanic, Latino and Latina students overcome tech skills barriers and become workforce-ready by graduation.

DeVry said it is dedicated to addressing and closing the gap on the underrepresentation of Hispanics in the technology industry.

"Despite tremendous projected growth in tech occupations, there continues to be ethnic disparity, and we think it's time to change that," said Tom Monahan, president and CEO of DeVry University.

The program will provide access to educational, community and mentorship tools and resources aimed to help Hispanic students in pursuit of a college education and tech career, and for graduate students to continue to advance in the workforce. The program will build the technology and critical thinking skills necessary to thrive in a tech career, DeVry said.

Those who identify as Hispanic or Latino and Latina make up 18.5% of the U.S. population and are the country's second largest ethnic group, yet only 8% of the tech sector is made up of Hispanic workers and only 2% of employed engineers are Hispanic women, according to DeVry.