When Philip Bernal was in an East Los Angeles high school, a counselor told him to forget college and try vocational school. Later, when he wanted to transfer to a four-year university after two years of junior college, another advisor said it would be a bad idea.

He didn't take their advice.Now armed with two degrees from the University of Utah, Bernal wants to do many things in the newly created job of student and minority affairs officer for the Utah System of Higher Edu-ca-tion.

One important goal is to see minority youths get greater encouragement to try higher education.

Currently, 5,904 ethnic minorities - 6 percent of the student body - are enrolled at Utah's nine public universities and colleges.

The minority population is growing in Utah public schools, but minorities are not enrolling in colleges at the same rate as whites - and the need to educate more students is "urgent," according to a new report by the state's Student Services Council.

Many things, especially financial difficulties, keep talented minority young people out of Utah colleges, Bernal said. However, if these students are never encouraged to go to college, many won't even try.

Closer ties between higher and public education could help and Bernal especially favors plenty of programs such as debate conferences or 4-H functions that bring very young students to campuses.

"My feeling is the sooner students in public education can even be upon a campus, see what the students look like, see what the college is like, the more likely they're going to think about completing their education beyond high school," Bernal said.

Once high school students are ready for college, Bernal sees merit in summer programs and orientation efforts to help them adjust to campus life.

He also favors expanded cultural, social and recreational activities that enhance ethnic diversity. These would make minority students feel less alienated, benefit all students and enrich the total college experience.

"That really goes into the philosophy of what higher education is supposed to do - expose students to different areas of knowledge, whether it's in music, art, film, history - so they can get the flavor of a subject and make up their minds. They can say, `Yes, I like jazz,' or `No, I don't like jazz.' "

Students and universities have a partnership, he said. "The campuses have an obligation to provide those kinds of programs, but the students are obliged to participate and attend. If they don't, they're missing out on half their education," Bernal said.

Although he has plenty of ideas, Bernal isn't coming to the job poised to force a hard-and-fast agenda of his own. He plans to learn more about the system, meet with key players and do what he can to foster better com-mu-ni-ca-tion.

In fact, the word "communication" crops up frequently when he talks.

"I'm one that tries to get everyone to listen to one another," Bernal said. "If I get very heated about something, I have to catch myself and say, `Wait a minute, Phil. You're debating, you're not listening.'

"If we can figure out what each person wants and needs, we can figure out answers to our problems."

It might help, for example, for campus representatives to share ideas about what works and what doesn't as far as retaining minority students once they've enrolled, he said. Bernal also hopes to have input into faculty recruitment and retention matters.

Bernal is leaving the job of assistant director of the Office of Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action at the University of Utah.

Colleagues there say he'll be missed, but they're pleased that the Utah System of Higher Education created the new position and that Bernal was selected.

"I think he'll do an outstanding job," said Augustine Trujillo, director of the U.'s Center for Ethnic Student Affairs, who has worked with Bernal for eight years. "One thing I like about Phil is that he's very people-oriented. He relates really well with whoever he works with."

Bernal has been president of the Utah Coalition for the Advancement of Minorities in Higher Education, is chairman of the Salt Lake County Sheriff Citizen's Advisory Board, serves on the Rape Crisis Center board and is treasurer of the Chicano Scholarship Fund.

A sergeant-major in the Army Reserves, he is the public affairs supervisor for the 358th Public Affairs Detachment, Fort Douglas Reserve Center, Utah.

What does he do in his leisure time?

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"My wife says that I go to meetings," Bernal replies, laughing.

He and his wife, Peggy, and their college-age daughter and high school-age son enjoy skiing, hiking and camping.

Bernal has high hopes for the new job.

"Basically, I can contribute to Utah's economic future because the education of Utah's citizens, no matter what gender or background, will determine the workforce and how Utah's economics are going to grow."

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