CSUSM Receives $2.6M Federal Hispanic-Serving Institution Grant

The U.S. Department of Education recently announced that California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) will receive a $2.6 million grant—$525,000 in each of the next five years—under the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Program. This is the first time since CSUSM received HSI recognition in 2010, that the University has received an HSI grant.

Hispanic Serving Institutes are defined as having at least 25 percent Hispanic full-time undergraduate students. CSUSM currently serves a student population that is nearly 40 percent Hispanic.

Thanks to the grant, CSUSM will fund:

• Innovations in student services including a bilingual/bicultural financial aid specialist and cultural transition academic advisor; bilingual/bicultural mathematics tutors to conduct in-person and online tutoring; and peer mentors for in-person and online support.

• Culturally validating curriculum including the creation of first-year general education courses with a focus on Latino identities; Latino college learning communities; supplemental writing and mathematics courses in hybrid format; and faculty professional development to improve courses which are in high demand but with low success rates for Latino students.

• Meaningful co-curricular offerings including additional research assistants; the second-year Latino Males Mentor Program; programming that addresses contemporary issues shaping Latino students’ educational experiences; and the Pathways to Academic Success and Opportunity (PASO) Parent Institute focusing on college transitions.

• Impactful new technologies including card-swipe technology for services associated with the grant; an instant online chat platform; online meeting technology; tablets for mathematics tutors; and a student computer laboratory for the Latin@ Center.

“We are grateful that the Federal government recognizes our efforts to improve the academic achievement of our Latina and Latino students,” said Karen Haynes, president of CSUSM. “This grant will allow us to enhance our innovative approaches toward making a Cal State San Marcos education more accessible to our region’s students, thus ensuring stronger communities and a more robust pipeline of professionals and leaders for tomorrow.”