On the heels of Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, established by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Northwest Vista College is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with memorable events and programs.
Defined in Title V of the Higher Education Act, Hispanic-Serving Institutions like Vista have a full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment made up of at least 25% Hispanic students. More than 66% of Vista students identify as Hispanic, which mirrors the demographics of our service area.
Earlier this year, I had the honor to renew Vista’s affiliation with Excelencia in Education by continuing to serve as an active member of the Presidents for Latino Student Success. This network of nearly 200 college presidents from across 28 states and Puerto Rico is an effort to increase Latino college completion and support all students.
Excelencia in Education established the Seal of Excelencia for colleges and universities that strive to go beyond enrollment percentages to serve Latino students. This national certification of rigorous self-assessment is a challenge for NVC to move from a Hispanic Serving to a Hispanic Thriving Institution.
This fall, nearly 20,000 students have entrusted their higher education to Vista. Our growth reflects the need in our community to uplift and empower our students and their families as they seek knowledge, careers, and sustainable wages. Vista students are eager to complete their coursework and graduate, transfer, or find employment.
Vista’s opportunity lies beyond enrollment and teaching and includes really getting to know our students and challenging them to push themselves further. It also means pushing ourselves to continually improve. I have full confidence we can achieve this with compassion and care by creating a sense of belonging and providing opportunities for upward mobility for all students including those in need.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to planning our Hispanic Heritage Month events and programing as well as upcoming Peace Week. Special thank you to Dr. Corina Gonzalez-Stout for her amazing coordination of the Life and Death on the Border 1910-1920 exhibition in the Library, and the opening reception and plática with the founding members of Refusing to Forget.
I invite you to join our students, faculty, and staff in these incredible opportunities for growth, reflection, and learning.
I would also like to extend my appreciation to the team engaged in the Aspen visit, as well as all the teams supporting Vista’s enrollment efforts across the college.
All of this work is bringing us closer to becoming a Hispanic-Thriving Institution and redefining student success for all Vista students!
