At California State University San Marcos (CSUSM), nearly 40 percent of the student body identifies as Latino. Unfortunately, many first-generation Latino students face major hurdles to pursuing a post-secondary education. And when they do enroll, they often find the transition challenging.
That’s why CSUSM launched The Latin@ Center earlier this month to create a supportive academic and inclusive community for these students.
Through mentoring, workshops and training and networking opportunities, the Center aims to arm Latino students with the academic support they need. They also offer educational, social and cultural programming to increase the awareness of diversity within the Latino community.
The opening of The Latin@ Center coincided with the beginning of National Hispanic Heritage Month, an annual celebration across the country to celebrate the achievements of the Hispanic community. CSUSM, a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), hopes that the Center will serve as a “symbol of a University energized with Latino pride and empowerment.”
ACE’s Center for Policy Research and Strategy recently released a policy brief on the role that HSIs play in educating Latinos and the funding challenges HSI institutions face. To download a copy of the brief, click here.
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