Golden State Today

The University of California, Davis has reached a significant milestone by becoming eligible for designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). This follows the fall enrollment figures showing Latinx students now make up 25.1% of the undergraduate full-time-equivalent student body, surpassing the U.S. Department of Education's 25% requirement for HSI status.

Chancellor Gary S. May expressed gratitude to those who contributed to this achievement over nearly a decade, stating, "Achieving eligibility for HSI designation shows that UC Davis is fulfilling its mission to serve the state, the nation and the world." The university aims to empower young people from underserved communities and address socioeconomic disparities in access to higher education.

UC Davis has previously met HSI criteria related to serving low-income students and core expenses. The campus plans to renew these statuses in January while continuing efforts toward Latinx student success and seeking federal funding for institutional transformation.

In 2019, UC Davis was recognized as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). Pablo Reguerín, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, highlighted how these designations help build an inclusive campus community and link together the success of all students.

Luis Carvajal-Carmona, associate vice chancellor for academic diversity in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), envisions UC Davis leveraging its Research I status to become a leading HSI in STEMM fields. He believes that STEMM education at UC Davis offers pathways to well-paying careers and social mobility for Latinx students.

Alumni such as Neptaly “Taty” Aguilera and Caroline Cabias have praised this development. Aguilera stated that reaching the HSI milestone enhances UC Davis's prominence as a public institution of higher education. Cabias noted it signifies potential partnerships with Hispanic stakeholders to expand campus programs.

The achievement was celebrated by various contributors including Enrollment Management; Lina Mendez; Blas Guerrero; Raquel Aldana; Marcela Cuellar; Renetta Tull; Rodrigo Bonilla; Lorena Márquez; among others involved in supporting Latinx academic success through initiatives like El Centro.

Renetta Tull extended thanks to everyone who worked towards this goal over many years: "There are so many people and units across campus, alumni and members of the community who have put in time and effort to make this happen."

Rodrigo Bonilla emphasized that institutional support has enabled innovative initiatives focused on culturally informed approaches centering students' identities. Lorena Márquez added that reaching the enrollment mark signals future students about finding community at UC Davis.