Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)
California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) first achieved its designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the US Department of Education in 2010. Over the following years the number of students who identify as Latinx has increased from 27% in 2010 to just over 50% in 2023. This steady and intentional growth reflects our dedication to providing accessible, high-quality education to a diverse student body, with a particular focus on supporting student success by addressing the unique needs of students from various backgrounds.
Our commitment to access and student success is reflected in a variety of initiatives, including culturally responsive instruction and programming, mentorship opportunities, and support services tailored to address the unique needs of our Latinx student population. Through collaborative efforts with student organizations, faculty, and staff, CSUSM is dedicated to promoting a sense of belonging and engagement with the campus community and ensuring that every student can thrive academically and personally.
Additional details about our campus’ ongoing Latinx student success initiatives, services, and resources are available below.
Journey to "Servingness" and Excelencia
Outreach
- Cougar Blue Day
Cougar Blue Day is an open house designed for for newly admitted students and their families to make connections and have their questions answered by current students, staff and even some of your future professors.
Contact: cougarbluedays@csusm.edu
- Discover CSUSM
Discover CSUSM is an annual Fall Open House inviting high school students, transfer students, and their families to visit the campus and learn about the various departments, campus resources and create connections with CSUSM. Student have the opportunity to have all their admissions questions answered and event be admitted on the spot.
Contact: discover@csusm.edu
- Migrant Scholar Summer Institute (MSSI)
The Migrant Scholars Summer Institute (MSSI) is an empowering and transformative 9-day, all-expenses-paid program funded by the Los Angeles County Office of Education, Migrant Education Program, Region X designed to provide a unique educationalexperience for migrant high school students. MSSI aims to prepare and inspireparticipants for higher education. This residential
Contact: Maria Venegas-Escobedo | mescobedo@csusm.edu
- Puente Conference
The Puente Student Conference is designed to increase the number of educationally underserved students who enroll in four-year universities, earn degrees, and return to the community as leaders and mentors to future generations.
Contact: studentaffairs@csusm.edu
Academic Excellence and Support
- HSI-STEM Building an Effective Ecosystem for Equity in STEM Careers
The HSI-STEM Building an Effective Ecosystem for Equity in STEM Careers project is a five-year $5.0 million dollar federally funded effort to increase the success and degree attainment of hispanic and underserved students by creating an "EcosySTEM for Success". This EcosySTEM will be designed to close the achievement gap and create clear pathways to high-paying and high-demand careers in the STEM fields.
Contact: Dr. Suzanne Hizer | shizer@csusm.edu
- National Latino Research Center (NLRC)
The National Latino Research Center (NLRC) is an applied social science research center with longstanding community and organizational partnerships in the U.S.-Mexico border region. The mission of the NLRC is to promote research, training, and greater awareness on the unique needs and dynamics of U.S. Latina/o communities. The NLRC works in partnership with Latina/o communities, organizations, and public institutions bridging educational and health resources and opportunities.
Contact: nlrc@csusm.edu
Sense of Belonging
- College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP)
The College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP) is a unique educational program at California State University San Marcos. This program aims to help students from migrant and seasonal farm worker backgrounds to succeed in college.
Contact: Maria Venegas-Escobedo | mescobedo@csusm.edu
- Cross-Cultural Center
The Cross-Cultural Center encourages identity exploration by challenging students to think critically about social justice issues and appreciate differences. Our programs promote the development of cultural intelligence, examine various forms of activism, and train students for campus leadership, community engagement, and social change. We create a space for marginalized communities to belong and support efforts for them to achieve their fullest potential for academic success.
Contact: Cheryl Landin | clandin@csusm.edu
- Dreamer Resource Office (DRO)
The Dreamer Resource Office (DRO) provides an inclusive, diverse, and safe space for undocumented (including mixed-status) students, staff, faculty and community members.
Contact: Josefina Espino | jespino@csusm.edu
- Latino Association of Faculty and Staff (LAFS)
The Latino Association of Faculty and Staff (LAFS) strives to celebrate and promote the Latino culture on our Campus and throughout our communities. The LAFS Mission is to celebrate and promote the Latino culture, which includes all of Latinoamerica from Mexico, to Central America, to South America to Greater Antilles; countries with a majority of their population speaking the Spanish language.
Contact: latino@csusm.edu
- Latinx Center
The Latinx Center is grounded on community building standards deriving from “Familismo” principals and operates from a Latinx Critical Theoretical lens. They focus on Latinx student cultural empowerment by providing affirming and validating literature, artwork, and media within our space.
Contact: Jackelin Villalobos | javillalobos@csusm.edu
- Pride Center
The Pride Center (PC) is an inclusive space which promotes positive interactions in a diverse environment. The PC strives to provide a space that celebrates and affirms students who identify with all genders and sexualities in the CSUSM community and their allies.
Contact: Robert Aiello-Hauser | rahauser@csusm.edu
- Women & Gender Equity Center
The Women & Gender Equity Center strives to develop and maintain inclusive and validating environments at CSU San Marcos with a focus on topics and issues broadly related to the experiences of women, trans and non-binary students, parenting students, and the impacts of sexism and misogyny.
Contact: Alycia McGeever | amcgeever@csusm.edu
Signature Events
- Fall
- Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration (September 15 - October 15)
- Hispanic Serving Institution Summit (November)
- HSI Faculty Symposium
- Día de Los Muertos (November)
- Las Posadas (December)
- Spring
- Latino Graduation Ceremomy (May)
HSI Grants
- Active Grants
- Community Grants - Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub
- CSTEM - Providing and Effective Ecosystem
- Developing Hispanic Serving Institution Grant (DHSI)
- Federal Minority Research Grant Program
- Hispanic Serving Institution Community Grant
- HSI Education
- Past Grants
- LXC STEM Initiative
- Latino Association of Faculty and Staff (LAFS)
- Project Support (Title V)
- Si Se Puede! To Close the Equity Gap in Engineering Degree Completion - Engineering
- Pathways to Academic Success & Opportunities
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