The primary focus of the Center is on the recruitment, academic development and retention of Latino students. The Center enrolls students who qualify for regular admission, but places particular emphasis on the recruitment of promising students who do not meet the university's entrance requirements. Students are personally guided through the application process for admission and financial aid, and oriented to Wayne State's physical and academic environment. Parents and students sign a contract to affirm their commitment to fulfilling the requirements of a college education. The Center's two-year academic and retention program is designed to sharpen skills in English, math and computers, and to provide a fuller appreciation of cultural heritage.
Most courses fulfill general university requirements and count toward graduation.
With a major grant from Michigan's Office of Minority Equity, the Center along with the university's College of Lifelong Learning is perfecting an early warning and intervention system and developing a cutting-edge retention program encompassing several academic units. Beyond the Center's formal academic program, its support services are available on a voluntary basis to its alumni and other university Latino students. The awards are made through the Latino En Marcha Fund endowed by the John Helfman estate. The Center has had noteworthy success in recent years in advancing the awareness of Latino issues both within the university and metropolitan Detroit. The Center's curriculum provides the university with a substantial part of its courses on Latin America and Latinos in the United States.