Embracing our HSI Identity | Hispanic Serving Institution

SRJC: Proud to Serve as an Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

Santa Rosa Junior College (SRJC) has been officially recognized as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) since 2014, a designation by the U.S. Department of Education for colleges where at least 25% of full-time undergraduate students identify as Hispanic. This status opens opportunities for federal funding through Title V and Title III STEM grants, aimed at enhancing support for Latinx students and advancing equity in higher education.

But being an HSI is about more than just funding—it’s about fostering a welcoming, inclusive environment where all students can thrive, feel valued, and achieve their goals. At SRJC, we’re committed to creating a sense of belonging, improving services for Latinx, first-generation, and low-income students, and transforming our systems with equity at the forefront.

Latinx Graduation

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Building a Culture of “Servingness”

In Fall 2023, SRJC launched the HSI Transformation Team, a collaborative action-research project led by Dr. Gina Ann Garcia, a renowned HSI scholar from UC Berkeley. Funded by the Student Experience Research Network (SERN), this initiative focuses on reimagining institutional policies and practices based on Dr. Garcia’s book, Transforming Hispanic-Serving Institutions for Equity and Justice.

The team has already begun assessing SRJC’s systems to strengthen its capacity as an HSI. Findings will be shared at the HSI Summit at UC Davis in April 2024.

At SRJC, we embrace our role as an HSI by continually striving to support and empower our diverse student community, ensuring that equity and justice guide everything we do.