Addressing Disparity: The Designation of the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institution

• In Event: 63.029 - Whose University? Constructing Identities and Narratives of Resistance in Higher Education

Abstract

Authorized in 2008, there is little written about how the Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) designation came to be. This paper uses historical analysis to (1) examine the context influencing the conceptualization of an AANAPISI designation and (2) identify key factors that facilitated and prohibited such conceptualization, especially around the time the first bill was introduced to Congress. The paper is organized into three main sections: a foundational understanding of minority serving institutions and the ways the notion of “serving” varies per designation, a deeper examination of the language used in the bills proposed, and the exploration of the overarching themes.

Author

• Jacqueline Mac, Indiana University - Bloomington