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Becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution
For Cal Poly, becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is not just a designation, but a reflection of its commitment to student success. It means being an institution that yields, retains, and graduates Latinx/e students by cultivating holistic student support and enhancing culturally enriching experiences. By centering servingness, Cal Poly fosters belonging and success for all students, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and values to thrive in a global workforce grounded in academic excellence, career readiness, and social responsibility.
The HSI designation is given to colleges and universities that have a Latinx/Hispanic student enrollment of at least 25%. This milestone was reached in Fall 2024 when Cal Poly’s Latinx/e student enrollment reached 25%, with approximately 29% of the incoming undergraduate class identifying as Latinx/e. Over the past decade, Latinx/e student enrollment has grown by 87%, reflecting the university’s progress in aligning more closely with California’s demographics.
As Cal Poly embraces its identity as an emerging HSI, it remains dedicated to building on this progress, expanding opportunities, and advancing success for generations to come.
Learn more about our HSI Mission, Vision, and Values ›
HSI Presentations
In an effort to support the broader campus in advancing Cal Poly’s journey toward becoming an HSI, Culture and Institutional Excellence offers educational presentations to departments and units. These presentations aim to deepen understanding of servingness and support campus-wide efforts to better serve Latinx students and all members of the Cal Poly community.
HSI Mini-Grants
As we advance our mission to become an HSI, we are committed to thinking critically and holistically about what it means to truly serve the Cal Poly community. To support this vision, the Cal Poly HSI High-Impact Mini-Grant Program provides resources for initiatives that strengthen our practice of servingness and advance our collective efforts toward achieving HSI designation.
Latinx/e Center for Academic Success and Achievement (La CASA)
La CASA is designed to provide holistic student support and foster a sense of belonging for students who identify as Latinx/e, Hispanic, or part of the Latin American and Caribbean diaspora at Cal Poly. Located in Building 15 Room 135, the facility includes an accessible computer lab and lounge space where students can study, enjoy culturally relevant workshops, and attend events hosted in partnership with other campus cultural centers. The center’s programming focuses on uplifting the various cultures, histories, and traditions within the Latinx/e diaspora.
HSI Recommendations Executive Summary
The HSI Task Force developed an executive summary of recommendations through research, best practices, and extensive community engagement in the academic year 2022-2023. Guided by Dr. Gina Garcia, the group integrated the concept of “servingness” into Cal Poly’s HSI vision and gathered campus input through focus groups with Latinx students, faculty, and staff, as well as bilingual surveys. This work culminated in 10 overarching recommendation areas and more than 40 strategies, providing the university with concrete, actionable steps to advance its HSI efforts.
Spanish-Translated Event Signage
Culture and Institutional Excellence has made Spanish event signage accessible to all campus partners. Download and print bilingual signage for your next event below.
