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"I feel prepared to go into any work environment b e c a u s e p ro f e s s o r s h a ve taught me what to expect out- side of the classroom," Sebas- tian said. "They instill that students shouldn't focus just on textbooks and exams to learn, but also interact with professors, really listen to lectures and take the skills they're teaching to apply them to our careers." Visit neiu.edu/cobm to learn more about Northeastern Illi- nois University's College of Business and Management. www.negociosnow.com Agosto 2019 19 NegociosNow NegociosNow on the ethnic makeup of their student body. To earn HSI sta- tus, at least 25 percent of a higher education institution's full-time undergraduate popu- lation must be Hispanic and at least 50 percent of all students must be eligible for Title IV financial aid, which consists of federally funded aid like the Federal Pell Grant. "Since HSIs are not driven by a mission to serve Latinx students and the number of HSIs continues to grow, there is an increasing focus on how intentionally HSIs are serving the needs of Latinx students," said Isaura Pulido, an asso- ciate professor and chair of Nor theaster n's Depar tment of Educational Inquir y and Curriculum Studies who also serves as an academic point person for HSI affairs. "In this context, the business sector has an opportunity to estab- lish relationships with HSIs and provide input on gaps and opportunities for the Latinx workforce and entre- preneurs." Within Northeastern's Col- lege of Business and Man- agement, the total number of Hispanic students earning bachelor's degrees has grown by 117 percent since 2013. For the university as a whole, the number has grown by a still- impressive 28 percent. "It all comes down to access, preparation and education," said Margaret Johnsson, instructor of entrepreneur- ship and director of North- eastern's Business Innovation and Growth (B.I.G.) Center, which helps start-ups and existing businesses fuel their "W ith stabilized state funding for education and other scholarship opportunities available at Northeastern— as well as the partnerships we're building through the B.I.G. Center— we are proud to increasingly be a destination for business-minded Latinx students" "T hey instill that students shouldn't focus just on textbooks and exams to learn, but also interact with professors, really listen to lectures and take the skills they're teaching to apply them to our careers." "I n this context, the business sector has an opportunity to establish relationships with HSIs and provide input on gaps and opportunities for the Latinx workforce and entrepreneurs." "W hen other kids were out playing in the summer, my dad had me and my sibling learning a lot about finance" entrepreneurial growth. "There are a lot of people with pas- sion and great ideas trying to get their products to market or get their businesses off the ground. But 75 percent of new ventures fail in the first year. Northeastern's B.I.G. Center helps entrepreneurs and estab- lished businesses hone their strategies, and then develop detailed plans in order to de- risk their growth efforts and investments. With increasing numbers of minority-owned businesses, there is also an increasing demand for growth- preparation education pro- grams to help them get it right the first time." Northeastern, which is rec- ognized nationally for its eth- nic diversity, is a reflection of that trend. "With stabilized state fund- ing for education and other scholarship oppor tunities available at Northeastern—as well as the partnerships we're building through the B.I.G. Center—we are proud to increasingly be a destination for business-minded Latinx students," College of Busi- ness and Management Dean Michael Bedell said. While Sebastian didn't choose Northeastern specifi- cally because of its HSI status, he appreciates the emphasis professors place on diversity and inclusion and feels confi- dent that the skills he's learn- ing will benefit him when he enters the dynamic and multi- cultural workforce. "W hen other kids were out playing in the summer, my dad had me and my sibling learning a lot about finance." Francisco Sebastian NegociosNow NegociosNow HACU - ESPECIAL

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