Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, Sept. 12 – 18
Fullerton College and the Cadena Cultural Center would like to invite the campus community to celebrate National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, Sept. 12 – 18. The week-long celebration recognizes more than 500 HSI’s throughout the nation for their work and critical role in educating and empowering Hispanic youth.
For nearly two decades, Fullerton College has been recognized as an HSI based on the percentage of students who identify as Hispanic/Latinx. Colleges and universities are defined as an HSI when at least 25 percent of students at the institution identify as Hispanic. In 1996, Fullerton College reached a level of 25.42 percent Hispanic students to meet HSI criteria. The college now enrolls more than 50 percent Hispanic/Latinx students.
In addition to Fullerton College being designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, the college was awarded a Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions grant from the United States Department of Education known as Promise Career Pathways in 2018. The grant, which is designed to improve student success outcomes, aims to expand access to college, accelerate time and rate of completion for degrees, certificates, and transfer students, and enhance pedagogy in the classroom.
The grant prioritizes expanding dual enrollment initiatives, developing pathway efforts, and increasing faculty professional development. At Fullerton College, pathway efforts can be seen through the Teacher Pathway Program, STEM Program, Career Technical Education programs, and Administration of Justice Pathway Program. Students within these programs have a plethora of support which includes wrap-around services, counseling, embedded tutors, and peer mentors. The Office of Educational Partnerships and Programs, which manages the grant, also supports the college’s Transfer Center to promote and enhance transfer readiness.
Earlier this year, Fullerton College was also named a 2022 Champion of Excellence from The Campaign for College Opportunity for Excelling in Equitable Course Placement of Latinx & Black students in English enrollment. Fullerton College successfully supported 100 percent of Latinx students and 100 percent of Black students to enroll directly into transfer level English coursework.
“National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week is just another way Fullerton College can celebrate and show support to our Hispanic/Latinx students,” said Director of Student Development and Engagement Connie Moreno Yamashiro. “We are thrilled to host an HSI Week Celebration to highlight campus departments and resources, and provide cultural foods and FC swag, all while celebrating our Hispanic/Latinx students and their accomplishments.”
The Cadena Cultural Center will launch a social media campaign starting Sept. 12 to celebrate HS Week and Fullerton College Hispanic/Latinx students. The Center will also host an HSI celebration on Sept. 15 at 12:30 p.m. in the Quad. For more information visit the Cadena Cultural Center website.
