EWU HSI Initiative

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As a regional public university, EWU reaches out to all diverse populations of our region. We strive to be a welcoming, friendly place for all students.

One of our strategic planning initiatives is to work toward the federal designation of a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). For an institution to qualify as an HSI, it must have at least a 25% Latinx/Hispanic student population. Our stretch goal is to be designated an HSI by 2023. Receiving this designation could provide EWU with access to resources that will benefit the entire student body. However, much more importantly, the extensive planning work on this initiative is helping us identify opportunities and challenges not only for the fastest growing population in our state but also for all prospective and current students.

What is an HSI?

A Hispanic Serving Institution is defined by federal law as an institution of higher education that has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application.

2020 Annual Report

Dr. S. James Perez presented to the Board of Trustees on Thursday, February 25, 2021. This is the final report presented.

Download Report (PDF)

Initiative Objectives

Strengthen

Strengthen institutional programs, facilities, and services to expand the educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans and other underrepresented populations.

Increase

Increase the number of Hispanic and other underrepresented students attaining degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Develop

Develop model transfer and articulation agreements between two-year and four-year institutions.

Task Force

In 2019, EWU launched its HSI Initiative and convened a task force to identify strategies to (1) increase Hispanic/Latinx FTE enrollment to 25 percent by a stretch goal of 2023/2024 and (2) support Hispanic/Latinx students’ academic success through to their graduation.

Objectives

The HSI Task Force will be the central point where information is gathered and recommendations formed. The major objectives of the Task Force are the following:

  • Create and maintain a variety of communication approaches across EWU campuses to ensure dialogue and information-sharing about issues related to the experiences of our Hispanic/Latinx students and ways to ensure the university is a welcoming place for them and for all students. This should include a dedicated and updated website.
  • Work in conjunction with HSI sub-committees to ensure all sectors of the university are included in dialogue and discussion.
  • Create a data tracking system on Hispanic success.
  • Draft a plan and timeline to increase the overall Hispanic student population at EWU to at least 25%. This draft will be submitted to the EWU president by October 2020 for her review.
    • The draft plan will (1) offer recommendations to the President and university leadership that result from campus dialogue and understanding of best practices nationally; (2) recommend ways to integrate HSI strategies across the university; (3) recommend a versatile framework of guidance, support, and enrichment to serve Hispanic/Latinx students from enrollment through degree completion; and (4) describe how the efforts to support Hispanic/Latinx students will bolster the success of all students. Where possible, the recommendations should include budget implications.

Structure

Membership

Members, who will be appointed and re-appointed by the president, will include:

  • Exempt employees
  • Classified employees
  • Faculty members
  • Students
  • Community member(s)

The Committee will have between 10 and 20 members.

Members are asked to serve a minimum of one year.

Meetings

The Task Force will meet at least once per month and more often as necessary.

  • March 3, 2020
  • April 7, 2020
  • May 5, 2020
  • June 2, 2020
  • *July 14, 2020 (2nd Tuesday)
  • August 4, 2020
  • September 1, 2020
  • October 6, 2020
  • November 3, 2020
  • December 1, 2020

Sub-Committees

In 2019, EWU launched its HSI Initiative and convened a task force to identify strategies to (1) increase Hispanic/Latinx FTE enrollment to 25 percent by a stretch goal of 2023/2024 and (2) support Hispanic/Latinx students’ educational success in the university through graduation.

Objectives

Each HSI Sub-Committee will:

  • Research best practices: conduct general research on the specific topic area of the sub-committee to learn national best practices and understand the specific situation of EWU Hispanic/Latinx students.
  • Create an inventory of university practices, programming, and policies that are serving Hispanic/Latinx students effectively or putting up barriers to their success.
  • Identify key strengths, gaps, needs, and questions that need to be recognized and/or addressed.
  • Establish priorities and make recommendations with timelines, goals, objectives, and, if possible, budget implications.
  • Regularly report findings to HSI Task Force.

Structure

Membership

Members, who will be appointed and re-appointed by the president, will include:

  • Exempt employees
  • Classified employees
  • Faculty members
  • Students
  • Community member(s)

Each Sub-Committee will have between 5 and 15 members.

Members are asked to serve a minimum of one year.

Meetings

Each Sub-Committee will meet once per month and more often as necessary. Sub-Committee chairs will provide written reports to the Task Force after each meeting.

Office of Institutional Research
University Strategic Planning