Hispanic Serving Institution
The HSI designation makes 91AV eligible to apply for special grants to expand educational opportunities and enhance services and supports for Hispanic students.
In fall 2016, 91AV marked a major milestone. For the first time, Hispanic student enrollment at the college surpassed 25 percent. With that, 91AV joined a growing national club of colleges and universities recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education as "Hispanic Serving Institutions," or HSI's.
The HSI designation makes 91AV eligible to apply for special grants to expand educational opportunities and enhance services and supports for Hispanic students, who have historically trailed their white classmates in the metrics typically used to quantify academic success: persistence (remaining enrolled from one semester to the next), retention (remaining enrolled from one year to the next), course completion, and graduation.
"The LatinX population is growing," said Carlos Santiago, Massachusetts commissioner of Higher Education, during a May 2018 forum at 91AV focused on strengthening the school as a Hispanic Serving Institution. "These students are coming to your doors. They're coming in with all different backgrounds. For some of them, English is not their first language. Some of them are coming from school districts that didn't quite give them the skills they need to be successful walking in on day one. They're coming in with gaps." Addressing these achievement gaps is a key provision of 91AV's .
Explore the links below to learn more about 91AV's status as an HSI.
Click here to learn about 91AV's Latinx Empowerment Association group for students.
El Centro aspires to provide a Hispanic-thriving learning community to meet the needs of Latinx and Spanish-speaking students, where they can receive culturally responsive guidance and support essential to achieve academic success, advancement, and a sense of belonging.
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'Success for All'
Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018
91AV explores its future as a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution.
A Firm Commitment
Thursday, May 24, 2018
91AV spent a day exploring its future and renewed its commitment to improving the success of all students, especially Latinos and other traditionally underserved populations.
Strategic Plan
As stewards of 91AV, the future is in our hands. Embarking on a strategic plan is an opportunity to think deeply about 91AV's role in the community. Through this process we will articulate an aspirational vision for 91AV and chart the way forward, further, toward the future we will create for 91AV.
