Dear Campus Community,
It is our great pleasure to share with you the draft report of the HSI Task Force. In so doing, we are inviting public review of the report and your comments, which may be submitted using this form.
The HSI Task Force began its work in late 2019, and its three working groups examined the myriad issues involved with becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution by 2027. HSI is a designation by the U.S. Department of Education that requires at least 25 percent of enrolled undergraduate students to be Chicanx/Latinx and for the university to be a preferred destination for students eligible for Pell Grants. While the numbers are an important metric and certainly there is much work to be done to attract, recruit, and admit many more students from underrepresented communities and marginalized backgrounds, the Task Force realized that in order to create an environment where Chicanx/Latinx students can thrive, there must be much greater focus on campus climate, which includes experiences, resources, access, and opportunities. Therefore, the HSI designation is a key element of our broader campus diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging goals. It is our belief that by working to implement the recommendations of the HSI Task Force, we will succeed in making our campus a place where everyone can thrive in their academic pursuits and personal growth.
We are grateful for the work of the members of the Task Force and to the many in the campus community who have already lent their wisdom and expertise to this report.
I hope you will take the time to review the HSI Task Force Report and share your feedback and suggestions so that we can set our priorities accordingly. Thank you very much.