Last week, Salem State University (SSU) hosted New England’s first conference of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). It was an energetic gathering of dynamic speakers, passionate leaders, and students. It was a convening that Urban College of Boston could not miss. Our college is 90% students of color, most of whom are Hispanic, with Black and Asian students also strongly represented. As a Minority Serving Institution (MSI), we have developed deep knowledge of how to best serve our diverse learners. We continue to work on our effectiveness in delivering high-quality experiences and are proud to be a multilingual institution that allows learners to begin their studies in their native languages while concurrently deepening their English language proficiency.
I knew the conference was going to be fire, to use the colloquial term describing how great an event it was, because I knew the two main organizers at SSU and they are two extraordinary women. We were all in for a surprise when the dining staff served Latin food. It was delicious and contributed to the welcoming environment that permeated campus. The execution of the conference showed a high level of cultural dexterity among the planners that served as an example of how we should be supporting our students to create a sense of belonging at our institutions.
With the growing number of Hispanic students in higher education, the conference was very timely. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 21 percent of U.S. residents enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs identified as Hispanic in 2021. According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, there are 600 HSIs in the country that enroll about 32 percent of all undergraduate students enrolled in non-profit post-secondary education. Twenty-six percent of associate degrees conferred in 2022 were awarded to Hispanic students. Hispanic Serving Institutions accounted for nine of the top 10 colleges and universities ranked by the Social Mobility Index (SMI) in 2023.
Hispanic students are more likely to be first-generation college students. This means that they need more support navigating college compared to those for whom college is already a family legacy. At Urban College of Boston, we help students harness the capital that they bring to help fuel their success in the academic realm and in their careers. With a high proportion of students for whom English is not the first language, we also help students understand how their linguistic assets make them more competitive in an increasingly globalized labor market.
Experts in Hispanic student success, Drs. Gina Ann Garcia of the University of California Berkeley and Deborah Santos, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Excelencia in Education, shared the latest trends and research on high-impact practices with conference attendees. Dr. Santos also convened a luncheon for presidents and provosts to explore collaborations that could help lift students across the state and the region.
I left the conference empowered with new insights and knowledge and with a renewed sense that our country’s prosperity depends on lifting all boats but not in a one-size-fits all way. It was energizing to be on a campus with so many folks committed to eradicating disparities in access and achievement in higher education.
