Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Serving Latino Students

1. Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Serving Latino Students Seminar sponsored by ¡Excelenciain Education! Presented by Victoria J. Payne April 12, 2010

2. Presentation Outline • Overview of Event, HSI’s, and Emerging HSI‘s • Relevant Legislature • Why We Should Care • The Research: Schools, Key Findings, & What Works • Suggestions for Schools • How I Will Use this Information

3. Event Details Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs): Serving Latino Students SeminarThursday, February 4, 20109:00 AM – 10:30 AMCannon Office Building, Room 340 (US Capital)Washington, DCSponsored by ¡Excelenciain Education!

4. Hispanic-Serving Institutions Overview • Started in the 1980’s • Political construct • Many were traditionally white institutions • This designation comes with government funding • In 1995, there were 135 HSI’s, and in 2007, there were 267 HSI’s • 48% of HSI’s are Community Colleges • Almost 70% of HSIs were located in Texas, California, and Puerto Rico

5. Overview of Emerging HSI’s • 15-24% Enrollments of Hispanic/Latino Students • Degree Granting Institution • Located in 20 states, concentrated in California and Texas • 176 Institutions identified • 44% were community colleges • 36% were private colleges and universities • 20% were public colleges and universities

6. Proposed and Existing Legislature & Programs • The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act (SAFRA) - helps make college more affordable. • All Star Act - encourages charter schools that service at-risk youth. • Early Childhood Education Challenge Grants • DREAM Act • Texas has “Closing the Gap” Program for 2015 – promotes more college enrollment and graduation among Latino students.

7. Why Should We Care? • The Latino population represents the fastest growing population in our nation. • The current administration is concerned with making sure that more of our youth go to college (2020). • Intentionality

8. Schools in Study • Loyola Marymount University (CA) – Private • It costs school more to serve Latino population • Latino Overnight Program • Reached out to community colleges for transfer students • Important role of religious-affiliated schools • Palm Beach Community College-Lake Worth (FL) • Faculty and Staff were absadors to community • Latinos were reluctant to identify themselves as Hispanic • Students have fear of being tested if ESL

9. Schools in Study (cont’d) • Texas State University-San Marcos (TX) – Public • Culturally Competent faculty • They recruit (diverse) faculty as well as students • Have goal to be HSI by 2012 • Metropolitan State College of Denver (CO) – Public • 55-member Task Force with 7 subgroups • “Inclusive Excellence” • Have goal to be HSI by 2015

10. Key Findings • While over 50 percent of Emerging HSIs reported specific practices related to the recruitment of Latino students, just over one-third stated their institution had academic programs or support services specifically focused on Latino students. • A lot if HIS‘s have a high concentration of other minorities.

11. What Works • Increased awareness of Latino enrollment resulted in increased efforts to serve them. • Internal data use to profile current students’ enrollment, retention, and completion was critical to inform changes to institutional practice. • Administrators and staff articulated a consistent message. • Presidential leadership to improve institution-wide practices was a key factor. • Experimentation in creating or adopting promising practices was encouraged. • There was a broad ownership of student success at all levels.

12. Suggestions for Serving Hispanic/Latino Students Better • Recruitment • Increase resources for recruitment and information to Latino communities; target community and neighborhood organizations as partners. • Create programs to engage Latino high school students and their families early. • Provide more need-based financial aid. • Develop strong partnerships between community colleges and HSIs with formal articulation agreements, transition services, and monitoring of transfer patterns. • Faculty • Increase the cultural competency of faculty to work effectively with Latino students. • Implement policies that lead to hiring and retention of a more diverse faculty, including more tenured positions. • Assess and strengthen the presence and status of Latino faculty on campus. • Administration • Raise the awareness of the community, faculty and staff about the potential benefits of becoming an HSI. • Be inclusive in the curriculum

13. Suggestions for Serving Hispanic/Latino Students Better (cont’d) • Retention and Persistence • Create, improve, and strengthen the formal relationship between Academic Affairs and Student Affairs; develop the infrastructure for both to become more intrusive in assisting new students to succeed and persist. • Require basic multicultural training for all new Student Affairs staff. • Increase resources for student services, advising and mentoring programs that focus on Latino students. • Have a multicultural center with a variety of diverse programs and events that is available to all students for studying, relaxing, learning, and participating in campus activities. • Hire more Latino students for part-time jobs on campus.

14. How I will Use this Information • Encourage mentoring relationships. • Incorporate Latino cultural elements in the curriculum and classroom environment. • Use government education websites for resources. • Mindset of serving, in addition to teaching. • Plant seeds for post-secondary education early • Partner with local colleges

15. Useful Links • http://www.edexcelencia.org/ • http://www.edexcelencia.org/research/emerging-hispanic-serving-institutions-hsis-serving-latino-students

16. The End Any Questions?