Unforgetting Histories and Imagining Futures: Experiences of Latinx Faculty in Tenure-Track Appointments at Hispanic-Serving Institutions

• In Event: Faculty Innovations at Minority Serving Institutions

Abstract

This qualitative study examines how ten Latinx assistant professors navigate their first year on the tenure-track at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Guided by organizational socialization theory and epistemic exclusion, semi-structured interviews with Latinx faculty reveal that they began their roles without adequate guidance, formal orientation, or structured onboarding. In this “sink-or-swim” environment, their tenure progress was delayed, professional isolation deepened, and invisible labor intensified as faculty worked to decode tenure expectations. These accounts reveal that many HSIs still operate within a culture of whiteness, as faculty experiences mirror dynamics found at Predominantly White Institutions. Findings point to the need for structured onboarding, transparent tenure criteria, and culturally responsive mentoring to help Latinx faculty thrive and enable HSIs to fulfill their Hispanic‑serving mission.

Author

• Carlos A Galan, California State University - San Bernardino