From Policy Impact to Collective Action: Strengthening Minority-Serving Institutions in a Shifting Landscape

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

This townhall session will bring together institutional leaders and scholars to discuss the impact of current federal actions on Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs). These institutions have dealt with the cancellation and reallocation of grants, continued scrutiny of their federal designations, and the impact of other policies in higher education. These actions will have a lasting impact on staff, faculty, students, and communities where these institutions are located. In this townhall, we will include perspectives from a diverse group of institutional leaders, administrators and practitioners from MSI community colleges and universities, faculty perspectives, and from scholars who study multiple-designated MSIs. This session will not just be focused on the current impact of policies, but also to chart the future direction of MSIs that prioritizes coalition-building among the various types of MSIs. The participants will answer questions from a moderator, followed by a townhall format Q&A with the audience.

Sub Unit

• Social Justice Action Committee

Chair

• Leslie D. Gonzales, University of Arizona

Session Organizers

• Marcela G. Cuellar, University of California - Davis

• Cynthia D. Villarreal, Northern Arizona University

• Ruth María López, University of Arizona

Discussants

• Marialexia Zaragoza, University of Pittsburgh

• Marla Franco, University of Arizona

• Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza, California Lutheran University

• Felisha Herrera, San Diego State University

• Desiree Zuniga, Pasadena City College

• Stacey Raina Speller, Howard University

• Natalie Rose Youngbull, University of Oklahoma