Hispanic Serving Research Institution (HSRI) + CSI
The federal designation of a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) is an enrollment-driven classification for two-year or four-year not-for-profit institutions of higher education with a minimum 25 percent Hispanic/Latinx undergraduate student population. Scholars within higher education have explored what "serving" means and/or entails across different HSI college and university campuses. UCSB's reputation as a premiere research institution coupled with our dual-status as both an HSI and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), uniquely and advantageously positions research centers at UCSB. Research units hold influential campus roles in supporting research directions, offering research opportunities, and/or showcasing research findings. CSI's mission to promote a research culture among students and post-PhDs to faculty demonstrates how we – as a research unit - serve our campus communities.
CSI views this as a pivotal moment to reimagine UCSB as a Hispanic Serving Research Institution (HSRI) as well as a Minority Serving Research Institution (MSRI) where graduate students and faculty are key institutional actors in promoting research among and about Latinx, immigrant communities. In encouraging more communities of color to enter the academic workforce, we are also training a new diverse generation of UC leadership.
Ultimately, an HSRI viewpoint stresses that research excellence is achieved best through inclusive research practices and collaborations.
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) - Student Serving Grants
The following grants were responses to continuing campus calls for research opportunities, hands-on engagement, and for assistance navigating the daily, changing routines of our most vulnerable students. They were collaborative efforts led by the Office of Research with faculty and staff, as well as administrators and student leaders to seek new ways of serving Latinx undergraduate students.
ONDAS (Opening New Doors To Accelerating Student Success)
The ONDAS Student Center (OSC) was originally funded by a Department of Education Title V HSI grant and now operates as a campus-funded unit. ONDAS functions as a student center that promotes the success and retention of first-generation college students with an emphasis on the first-year transition and underrepresented student experience. The Center provides mentoring and academic support in a learning-centered space for students to connect with faculty, staff, and peers in order to grow personally and excel academically. In practice, they also offer lunches for commuter students, host small group dinners with faculty, sponsor financial workshops, host office hours and study groups, and have championed a “First Gen” campaign on our campus.
ÉXITO (Educational eXcellence and Inclusion Training Opportunities)
The first program of its kind in the UC system, ÉXITO provides a clearly structured pathway for UCSB students to become certified Ethnic Studies teachers. The prorgam offers a “4+1” program in which UCSB students graduate with a bachelor’s degree in an ethnic studies or feminist studies major, then earn a master’s and a teaching credential at the Gevirtz School's Teacher Education Program. Also funded by a Department of Education Title V HSI grant, ÉXITO places aspiring ethnic studies teachers in high school ethnic studies classes and academically prepares them to excel in graduate school.
FUERTE (Field-based Undergraduate Engagement through Research, Teaching, and Education)
A program designed to build students’ foundations to succeed at the university, and to develop the skills they need for a career in conservation and environmental sciences. Funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), FUERTE is meant to welcome and support students who are traditionally under-represented in environmental sciences, especially Latinx, Indigenous, Black, and first-generation undergraduates. Because fieldwork is often viewed as an essential yet financially-difficult experience, FUERTE ensures that this opportunity is made possible to for minoritized students.
CEES (Center for Equitable Environmental Sciences)
A program that encourages STEM majors from first generation and minoritized backgrounds to pursue environmental justice internships and careers. Funded by a Hispanic-Serving Institute - National Science Foundation (HSI-NSF) grant, CEES is housed at CSI. In partnership with UCSB's Career Services, CEES established the "Environment and Society" career track and works with a specific career counselor dedicated to Environmental related careers and internships. CEES also facilitates a mentorship program between first and second year undergraduates in STEM with more senior students.
EAEM (Equitable Agriculture and Environmental Management)
In partnership with the University of Arizona, a fellow Hispanic-Serving Institution, EAEM works towards building sustainability and justice concerns into STEM education in agriculture with a specific focus on recruiting, retaining, and supporting underrepresented (UR) students. The two year program emphasizes environmental justice as a starting point and provides career-relevant skills and internships. This comprehensive program includes summer coursework, career development, learning communities, and internships for undergraduate students and support for graduate students from underrepresented backgrounds pursuing Master's or Ph.D. degrees. EAEM is funded by an HSI grant by the US Department of Agriculture.
A-CAUSE (Academy for Community, Action, and Use-Inspired Scholarship & Education)
UCSB's most recent Title V project harnesses UCSB’s identity as a research-intensive Hispanic-Serving Institution by transforming structures and processes on the campus in significant ways to serve Latinx and other low-income students. Housed in our Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, A-CAUSE engages in research, scholarship, and creative inquiry (RSCI) – characterized by authentic scientific, scholarly, and creative discovery. Participating in undergraduate RSCI and related internships is known to increase student retention rates, feelings of campus belonging, and overall student success. A-CAUSE focuses on research training and experiences of undergraduates in the Social Sciences, Humanities and Fine Arts, as well as Education through a summer institute, research workshops, and paired research opportunities with faculty teams.
INSPIRE (Integrated Networking, Scholarship, and Peer Interaction for First-Year Engineers)
A program for high-achieving first-year majors in the College of Engineering, and is designed with a focus on students from low-income families and/or are first-generation college students. Incoming students transition to UCSB with a designated peer mentor, participation in research seminars, as well as social activities. INSPIRE provides a structured, holistic and academic program of support for first-year students.
UCSB's Inaugural Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Director
We are excited to announce that UCSB hires Dr. Veronica Fematt as the inaugural HSI Director. This is a new position housed in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. See their Q&A interview with The Current.
Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) - Collaborations
UCSB participates in a number of collaborations and coalitions with fellow universities designated as HSIs. Currently, six of the nine UC campuses are designated as Hispanic Serving Institutions with two recognized as "emerging" HSIs with a 15% to 25% Latinx undergraduate enrollment.
UC Hispanic-Serving Institutions Initiative
The UC HSI Initiative brings together researchers, practitioners, community organizations, higher education advocates and student leaders to cultivate fresh ideas and best practices as well as the political will to help campuses leverage their HSI status.
Campus representatives: D. Inés Casillas (Chicano Studies Institute); Mario Castellanos (Office of Education Partnerships); and Veronica Fematt (Hispanic Serving Institution Director)
UC Chicano/Latino Advisory Council (CLAC)
The UC Chicano/Latino Advisory Council (CLAC) addresses the critical need to meet UC's goals of inclusive excellence by advancing a thriving Chicano/Latino presence on all UC campuses. The Council provides input to UC leadership on approaches to address the lack of representation of Chicanos/Latinos in senior faculty and administrative positions, and it recommends strategies for improving Chicano/Latino student success along the educational pipeline.
Campus representatives: D. Inés Casillas (Chicano Studies Institute) and Cuca Acosta (Admissions)
Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities (HSRU)
UCSB is part of this unique Alliance of twenty-one universities that hold the double designation as both an HSI and a research university within the top 5% of universities in the United States, as determined by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. They seek to double the number of Latinx doctorates as well as increase by 20% the number of Latinx faculty by the year 2030.
Campus representatives: Chancellor Henry Yang and D. Inés Casillas (Liasion; Chicano Studies Institute)
SOL: Strengthening Opportunities for Latinx (UCSB staff/faculty group)
The mission of SOL is to transform the university to be affirmative of diverse perspectives, and facilitate and guide efforts to deconstruct and decolonize structures that limit opportunities and access. We seek to uplift the achievement, equity and advancement of Latinx students, staff and faculty. Working in solidarity with other communities, we create bridges of access to education, and opportunities to advance professional development. We develop leaders who will leave a footprint beyond UCSB, and Santa Barbara.
Co-chairs: Cuca Acosta (Admissions) and Gerardo Aldana (Chicana and Chicano Studies)
Art image above "Chicana in College" by artist Jake Prendez
