The Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) grant program is in its second year of implementation at Pacific Oaks College. Based in the Student Success Center, the grant’s overarching objectives are to improve graduation rates, boost academic performance, and instill a sense of belonging for Latinx students at the school.
From the beginning, program director Judy Castro, Ed.D., has focused resources on inclusion. “Our commitment is to ensure that we continuously engage students,” Dr. Castro says. “Engaging students encourages persistence, from the perspective of their continuing their degree, their commitment to themselves, and their commitment to the community.”
After almost two years of largely remote learning, an important part of the center’s effort is actively reaching out to students. In addition to popular offerings like the lending library for books and laptops, mentoring and tutoring programs, student success coaches, and bilingual services, the center has added programs including an event called 12 Strangers for Brunch that engages undergraduates and alumni to build meaningful connections that will continue at Pacific Oaks and beyond.
The center is also continuing its speaker series and extending invitations beyond the campus. Their first event that was open to the public attracted 65 attendees for a talk by immigrant and former student Sarahi Salamanca. “Our speaker series features Latinx professionals and other role models who have overcome adversity through education,” Dr. Castro says, “and that is really important because our students see themselves in that speaker.”
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