Hispanic Heritage Month: A look at how HSI Initiatives fuels research and student success

The efforts of the Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives office are paying off in a big way for university researchers. In 2023, 130 HSI-related research projects at the university brought in $173 million. The money comes from funding opportunities where: only HSIs are eligible to apply; HSIs and Minority-Serving Institutions are specifically encouraged to apply; or projects that explicitly engage minority students and communities are specifically encouraged to apply.

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As the University of Arizona celebrates the history, culture and contributions of the Hispanic community during Hispanic Heritage Month, commemorated from Sept. 15-Oct. 15, the office continues its year-round work to make sure the university's Hispanic staff, faculty and students have the support, opportunities and resources they need to thrive.

A Hispanic-Serving Institution is a higher education institution with an enrollment of undergraduate students that is at least 25% Hispanic. There are currently 600 HSIs in the U.S., including 20 in Arizona. The university was designated an HSI in 2018.

HSI Initiatives, which opened in 2018, also directly supports faculty research and creative endeavors through the Hispanic Serving Institution Faculty Seed Grant program, which has provided $625,000 in funding to 31 projects since 2021. This year's recipients were announced in June.

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Other significant accomplishments achieved by the office include:

• In 2019, the university was among nine higher education institutions to receive the inaugural Seal of Excelencia, recognizing excellence in supporting Latino student success. The university was recertified in 2022.
• The office helped launch the AZ HSI Consortium in 2021, bringing together Arizona HSIs to develop a community to promote professional development, collaborate on funding opportunities and develop pathways for Latino students to attend Arizona universities. The consortium received nearly $3 million from the National Science Foundation for an effort to attract students to STEM-related majors and job opportunities.
• The university was awarded $3 million from the U.S. Department of Education in 2023 to launch Project ADELANTE: Advancing Culturally Responsive Place-Based Educational Opportunities for Latinx Students in the Borderlands, which is aimed at increasing retention, degree completion, career readiness and post-graduation success for Hispanic first-generation and low-income students.
• The university has been recognized three years in a row as a Fulbright HSI Leader by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The award recognizes the university's commitment to the Fulbright Program, the federal government's flagship international educational exchange program. 

Celebrating Hispanic heritage

The University will again honor the Hispanic community with a cultural logo, which will be featured on branded merchandise available at the Campus Store and on the university's Amazon site and the Fanatics online store. A portion of the sales from these sites will help benefit students through the Adalberto and Ana Guerrero Student Center.

Arizona football celebrated Hispanic Heritage Day during Saturday's 22-10 win over against Northern Arizona University. Pregame and halftime festivities included mariachi and folklórico performances from university and area high school groups. Arizona soccer will hold Hispanic Heritage Night for the Oct. 4 game against Brigham Young University. The festivities will include a flag parade to celebrate Hispanic and Latino countries represented by student-athletes.

In the next edition of Lo Que Pasa, we will continue celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by spotlighting a Center for Creative Photography exhibit featuring the work of groundbreaking Chicano photographer Louis Carlos Bernal.