The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has named The University of Texas at Arlington its 2014 Outstanding HACU-Member Institution for the school's contributions to Hispanic higher education.

The award comes as the HACU and UT Arlington prepare for an Oct. 31 summit at UTA focused on preparing Latino students for corporate internships and jobs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. The award recognizes excellence in support of the HACU's mission, which includes improving access to and the quality of post-secondary educational opportunities for Hispanic students.

"We are tremendously proud of our partnership with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities as well as our commitment to the principles of an Outstanding HACU-Member Institution," said UT Arlington President Vistasp M. Karbhari. "I'd like to acknowledge and thank our faculty and staff whose dedication to student success helps ensure our commitment to providing the very best educational experience to each of our students."

UT Arlington's fall enrollment reached a record of nearly 35,000 students. Of that number, about 27 percent of undergraduates are Hispanic. Earlier this year, that ratio helped UT Arlington to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution, or HSI. HSIs are eligible to apply for U.S. Department of Education grants supporting and strengthening institutions with large numbers of Hispanic students.

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