As a recent jump in a national ranking indicates, the UF College of Engineering's efforts to recruit a diverse student body are succeeding.
A poll released earlier this month by Hispanic Business magazine ranked UF No. 6 among the top 10 engineering schools for Hispanic students.
High rankings among Hispanic engineering students are nothing new for the college, said Pramod Khargonekar, the College of Engineering dean.
"We are usually top two, top three with Hispanic undergraduates in the nation," Khargonekar said.
In 2007, the college awarded more bachelor's degrees to Hispanic engineering students than any other university in the U.S., according to the college's Web site.
About 14 percent of the college's undergraduates are Hispanic, Khargonekar said.
The college targets minorities through freshman programs, such as the Successful Transition through Enhanced Preparation for Undergraduate Programs, or STEPUP.
Diversity is key to the college's makeup because it helps students learn to work with different types of people.
"Having a high-quality, diverse student body makes us a very attractive place for companies to come and recruit," Khargonekar said.
