Starting in 2008, UNC’s road to a Federal Hispanic Serving Institution designation has been steady and progressive. Since the fall of 2020, UNC began the targeted work toward becoming an HSI. Starting the conversation on what it might take for us to become an HSI, and developing the policies, structures, and culturally responsive practices that intentionally increase students' educational attainment, career, and social mobility; consciously working to provide our students with an experience that facilitates their graduation to help them effectively launch their careers.

An HSI designation is finally in our sights, but we must be prepared to continue to review and adjust institutional policies and practices that limit the opportunities and success of our Hispanic and Latinx-identifying students, and devise practices that we as faculty and staff can implement to increase ways in which we serve (servingness) across our campus.

Join us as we help UNC become Colorado’s Next Hispanic Serving Institution.

Chicana/o & Latinx Studies professor, Jonathan Alcantar, Ph.D., and UNC Division of Advancement staffer Cristóbal Garcia have been named as steering committee members of Colorado’s Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Consortium. With the purpose of providing a collaborative community of HSIs aimed at strengthening our organizational capacity to intentionally serve Latinx/Hispanic students. 

The consortium will provide professional development and networking opportunities, share resources and information, cultivate collaboration to seek federal and foundation funding, and engage in community partnerships. These goals and activities will be developed and implemented by the steering committee. 

This summer, we’re reading Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice by Gina Ann Garcia. 

We’ve hosted two of three virtual sessions, and will be hosting the third and final session on Wednesday, July 12.

Please e-mail us at hsi@unco.edu to reserve a copy of the book (there are still a few available) or to gain access to the digital version (unlimited access through the library). Let us know you’d like to join by sending us an e-mail. 

Rosemary Gonzalez '23

First-gen nursing alumna Rosemary Gonzalez knew that attending college without her parents understanding the process might come with a few obstacles. Read how she found success! 

HSI Initiatives 2023-24

University and HSI leadership have outlined the following opportunities for involvement from the UNC community. Get involved to help us inform our next steps in becoming an HSI.

Diversity Up for UNC Grads

Almost a quarter of UNC's spring graduates (24.4%) identify as Hispanic/Latinx/ This is the highest percentage of Latinx graduates in a spring ceremony in the past 10 years, up from 11.5% in spring 2013. 

Invite colleagues and fellow bears to subscribe today, and to join our efforts toward becoming Colorado's next Hispanic Serving Institution. ¡Vamos Osos! 

unco.edu/hsi

UNC Division of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Campus Box 29 | Greeley, CO 80639

hsi@unco.edu

You received this e-mail because of your affiliation with UNC or because you subscribed. Noticias HSI is a quarterly electronic publication of the University of Northern Colorado and distributed by the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity/Title IX Policy and Coordinator