A Community College Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI): The Effect of an HSI Designation on Organizational Identity

• In Event: Institutional Differentiation: Leadership at Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and Community Colleges

Abstract

Most community colleges receiving the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation have no specific mission to serve Hispanic students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how receiving an HSI designation affects the identity and practices of a community college. Ten years of institutional documents covering the HSI transition period and 40 individual interviews were analyzed for common identity themes and indicators of a commitment to serving Hispanic students. Participants attributed no meaning to the HSI designation; however, the identity labels did have meanings associated with being Hispanic-serving. A “serving all students” ideology combined with a colorblind approach and fear of external stakeholder reaction to the HSI designation were barriers to adopting an HSI identity.

Authors

• Todd L Carter, Seward County Community College

• Jean A. Patterson, Wichita State University