What does it mean to learn, teach, and work at an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)?

On Thursday, Sept. 15, faculty, staff and students will come together to answer this question and more during the first campuswide celebration of National HSI Week. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Library Ellipse Gallery, “¡Adelante!: Envisioning Our Next Century of Service y Excelencia” will kick off with a welcome and remarks by Provost Xuanning Fu, President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval and ASI president Caroline Alvarez, followed by a congratulatory video by Excelencia in Education in recognition of Fresno State’s Seal of Excelencia, and three panels featuring faculty, staff and students who will speak on HSI servingness at Fresno State. The student panel will begin at 10:30 a.m.; the staff panel will begin at 11:15 a.m.; and the faculty panel kicks off at noon. Refreshments will be provided.

HSI Week is a nationally recognized celebration initiated by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities that aims to inspire conversations and celebrations related to eligible institutions’ HSI designation and the work they are doing to support the success and outcomes of Latinx students. According to the U.S. Department of Education, HSI status is awarded to campuses that enroll at least 25% Hispanic/Latinx students. Higher education advocates, however, focus on the “serving” aspect of the designation, calling for campus investments in programming, curricula, art, faculty, and staff that reflect and affirm Latinx students’ identities and experiences. In 2021, Fresno State was recognized as a recipient of the Seal of Excelencia by Excelencia in Education for its impactful work to accelerate Latinx student success through strategic leadership, effective use of data, and intentional efforts to improve how it serves its Latinx students.

For questions or accommodations requests, contact Dr. Larissa Mercado-Lopez at lmercadolopez@csufresno.edu. This event is sponsored by the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.