Becoming, Serving, and Institutionalizing Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander–Serving Institutions

• In Event: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institutions: Honoring the Past, Examining the Present, and Imaging the Future

Abstract

Nearing its 15th year anniversary, the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) federal grant program has transformed the ways colleges and universities are able serve their Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students on campus. The purpose of this presentation is to share findings from a national AANAPISI research project that explores three broad areas: Becoming an AANAPISI, Serving AANHPI students at AANAPISIs, and Institutionalizing programs and services funded by the AANAPISI grant. Using a multi-institution case study design and an exploratory sequential mixed-method approach, our study illuminates the ways colleges and universities have navigated becoming an AANAPISI, the types of programs and services that colleges and universities implement or enhance with AANAPISI grant funding to better serve their AANHPI students, and the process by which AANAPISI programs and services lead to institutional change. More specifically, we collaborated with over 20 institutions across the United States and United States-affiliated Pacific Islands by conducting semi-structured interviews with administrators and faculty, completing document analysis of AANAPISI annual reports and internal documents, and coordinating observations of institutions and their AANAPISI programs and services. Additionally, we used findings from our qualitative inquiry to conduct a survey of eligible AANAPISIs to gauge their interest in applying for and/or experience navigating the AANAPISI grant application. Findings from this national research study provide more content on the impact of AANAPISI programs on institution-wide transformation, illuminate successes and challenges encountered at and by AANAPISIs, and increase targeted interventions at AANAPISIs to better serve the AANHPI students on their campus. Moreover, the findings have implications at the federal level, specifically assisting with the (re)construction of policy recommendations and demonstrating a need for increased resources and funding opportunities from federal agencies. Finally, our findings will serve to support eligible AANAPISIs in navigating and being successful in the AANAPISI grant application process.

Authors

• Mike Hoa Nguyen, New York University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Demeturie Toso-Lafaele Gogue, University of California - Los Angeles
  Presenting Author

• Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, California Lutheran University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Patricia A. Neilson, University of Massachusetts - Boston
  Non-Presenting Author

• Rikka J. Venturanza, University of California - Los Angeles
  Non-Presenting Author