Meaning Making of Grant-Funded Spaces at an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-Serving Community College

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Wednesday 11:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Who is Shaping Institutions: The Role of External Organizations and Philanthropy

Abstract

Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) help build capacity at institutions to support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) and low-income individuals; there are also opportunities to support those beyond AAPI students (Nguyen, 2022). Nguyen (2025) highlighted building reputation, recruiting members, and equipping equity-centered leaders as key components of capacity building for student success at AANAPISIs. In this study, I focused on developing spaces. Through interviews with 25 institutional agents at a two-year AANAPISI (otherwise known as AAPI-serving community college), the findings revealed four types of AANAPISI-grant funded spaces for all students: (1) a physical, symbolic/inclusive, and permanent space, (2) a space for fostering cross-racial interactions, (3) a blended space, (4) a centralized hub of campus resources.

Author

• Victoria Kim, University of Texas - San Antonio