The national ranking of 15th by the magazine was based on the 567 graduates in 2009 who received their associate degrees from LSCS. The list, the Top 50 Colleges Awarding Associate Degrees to Hispanics, is compiled by the magazine based on data from the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, Minority Statistics office.

"Lone Star College System has made considerable progress in ensuring that all students are made to feel a part of the college system," said Dr. Ron Brown, interim associate vice chancellor of student success. "To ensure this happens, LSCS has incorporated several strategies into our 2009-2011 strategic plan that specifically address the needs of diverse student populations.

"LSCS recognizes that one of the greatest challenges facing colleges and universities today involves creating and maintaining a campus community that reflects the rich diversity of the state of Texas," Brown said.

LSCS reaffirmed its commitment to this goal when the college system implemented the Achieving the Dream program in 2006, he said.

In addition to Achieving the Dream, a program which utilizes grant funds to focus on the academic success of first-time college students, low socio-economical students and students of color, LSCS has also put into place: the Minority Male Initiative, a long-term program that assists in acclimating Hispanic and African American male students into higher education by providing mentoring, testing, and tutoring; and the Middle School to College initiative, which is a program that focuses on the academic needs of Hispanic and African American middle school students by helping guide them through middle school, into high school and then ultimately into and through college.

"LSCS has taken great strides to address the issue of diversity within our system," Brown said. "This commitment was made in recognition of both the importance of educating students to live and to work in an increasingly demanding society."

For LSCS, the 567 Hispanic graduates cited by the magazine represented 23 percent of the total graduates for 2009.

The magazine also listed LSCS as a top 50 community college in the number of Hispanic students enrolled. At LSCS the Hispanic student population of 9,878 students who attended in 2009 placed the college system 13th nationwide on the magazine's Top 50 list.