Cabrillo College received its Federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, based on enrollment of 25% Latinx and low-income students in 2007, which gave the College the eligibility to apply for and receive Federal HSI grants. Since 2010, Cabrillo has received 5 Title V HSI U.S. Department of Education grants and 3 Title III HSI U.S. Department of Education grants totaling $29 million focused on increasing the College’s capacity to serve Latinx and low-income students.
These HSI grant-funded projects include expanding distance education, creating data dashboards, building ‘smart’ classrooms and state-of-the-art greenhouses, creating a new science lab at the College’s Watsonville Center, creating new murals on both Cabrillo’s Aptos campus and Watsonville Center, piloting peer mentor programs, and delivering culturally-responsive professional development.
A new mural at Cabrillo College in Aptos celebrating the school’s approximately 50% Latnix student population.
Cabrillo has been working with Dr. Gina Garcia, an author and a leading scholar on HSIs, whose research centers on issues of equity and justice in higher education and the transformational practices required to enact organizational change. In spring 2021, Cabrillo faculty, staff, and administrators co-created a task force grounded in Dr. Garcia’s Transforming HSIs theoretical framework. The work of that Task Force culminated in a thorough report to the community, that can be found at www.cabrillo.edu/office-of-instruction/hispanic-serving-institution/.
At present, nearly half of Cabrillo’s student population is Latinx, and this past May, Cabrillo’s graduating Class of 2024 was nearly 53% Latinx.
“This is the fourth year we’ve celebrated HSI Week with an inspiring week-long series of events, including the unveiling of new murals at both the Aptos and Watsonville campuses, and a Latino Poetry Night on Thursday evening. The Cabrillo community and the broader community are invited to participate in all of these free events,” said Ann Endris, Title V HSI grant director. “This year’s theme of Corazon Valiente symbolizes our commitment to transforming our college to better serve our students, , especially those from historically marginalized communities.”
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Cabrillo HSI Week Events
Corazón Valiente de Cabrillo — Cabrillo’s newest mural in Aptos unveiled. Featured Cabrillo’s Mariachi band, food, and fun.
Cafecito con Piñatas — Opportunities to make your own piñata.
Corazón Valiente de STEAM — Honoring the success of our HSI community in STEM fields, which included interactive demos, live music and cultural performances, and the unveiling of our new science lab and mural!
Corazón Valiente y Bienestar Mental de Nuestra Comunidad Hispana — Celebrated brave hearts and the mental well-being of our Hispanic community!
Latino Poetry Night: Places We Call Home — Inspiring and moving poetry from our students and community.
Latino Role Models Conference — A free annual event, featuring Latino guest speakers, students, and a book signing by Jaime Cortez.
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The celebratory week of events was designed to educate the community and to celebrate Cabrillo’s federal designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution, as well as all of the College’s work over the past several years to proactively participate in the national call to transform from being merely Hispanic-enrolling institutions to becoming fully Hispanic Serving Institutions.