Jan 08, 2025 CSUCI faculty, students and staff join seven other CSUs in Hispanic-Serving Institution Action Network

Jan. 8, 2025 - College was at times overwhelming for CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Psychology major Arisay Diaz, whose family immigrated from a small village in Mexico when she was a child. Having programs in place, such as Peer Education & Equity Programs (PEEP), made all the difference to students like Diaz, who was the first in her family to attend college.

"We needed to have that sense of belonging and we have to create a culture of education from the ground up," said Diaz, who is also minoring in Chicana/o Studies. "Not just as a student, but in our families. Many of them are immigrants from rural villages and didn't get past elementary school. Nobody tells us how to manage a system of life and education here in the U.S. It's nothing like we had back home."

Successful programs and practices that encourage Latina/o students to thrive in higher education and beyond are the type of information CSUCI and seven other CSU campuses are sharing as part of the California State University Hispanic-Serving Institution Research Network.

"Think of it like a think tank for CSU campuses designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution or HSI," explained Professor of Chicana/o Studies José Alamillo, who leads the CSUCI team. "We were one of eight HSI campuses chosen to participate in this think tank, in which we will share and develop best practices and research on how we can better serve our students who are predominately Latinx and first generation and really need that support."

The CSU HSI Action Network was launched in 2023 with support from the College Futures Foundation, an independent organization dedicated to furthering the cause of higher education. Established in 2005, College Futures Foundation uses a wide variety of human and financial resources and tools - including nearly $20 million in grants annually - to work toward that mission. 

The other CSUs involved in this effort are: Cal State San Bernardino, Cal State East Bay, Cal Poly Humboldt, Cal State Monterey Bay, Sacramento State, California State University San Marcos, and California State University, Northridge. A team of faculty, student, administration and staff representatives meet via Zoom once a month to share what has been successful at each campus and where there is still room for growth.

"We come together as network," explained another member of the CSUCI team, Assistant Vice President for Student Academic Success & Equity Initiatives Michelle Hasendonckx. "We collaborate and share on how well we are serving the community we were meant to serve and discuss how we can raise issues of importance and share best practices."

As the first CSU campus to receive a Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education, CSUCI has 15 years of experience intentionally serving Hispanic students, which Alamillo believes will make CSUCI a valuable member of the task force. Also valuable is involving students in every one of the campus teams, he said.

"Involving students in every stage of this process is very important," Alamillo said. "The students are on the ground, and they will tell us what's needed. They will tell us what being an HSI institution really means to them, and I want them to be brutally honest."

CSUCI has done a lot of good work over the years, but there is still work to be done, Alamillo said. Only 56.3% of Latina/o students graduate in six years, compared to 70.6% of White students. Plus, the work needs to go beyond increasing enrollment among Hispanic students to make sure the students have a rich college experience followed by a successful career after graduation. These kinds of outcomes tend to transform entire families, according to Hasendonckx.

"It's not just getting the students here but making sure they have the experience they need to thrive," Hasendonckx said. "That they are doing well in their classes, getting involved and going on to rewarding careers. Our responsibilities do not end when they graduate. For example, CSUCI formed the Latina/o Alumni Association last year. When we talk about social mobility, we are committed to students all the way through completion of their degree and beyond. This sort of experience changes the trajectory of entire families."

Among the projects the task force is working on is a network of websites that connect each campus and detail what it means to be a Hispanic-Serving Institution, and, in the case of CSUCI, a quinceñera celebration to mark the 15th year CSUCI has been a Hispanic-Serving Institution.

The experience of being involved in the network has so far been extremely rewarding for Diaz.

"It's amazing," Diaz said. "I feel like this is what I've always dreamed about. Being part of something bigger than myself with people who understand me - and all of them want better for us."