Purpose

At Cal Poly, the HSI Student Advisory Board is dedicated to advancing Dr. Gina Garcia’s servingness framework, a transformative approach that places student experiences at the forefront of our community development. Our mission is to amplify student voices, providing a robust platform and the necessary support to influence Cal Poly's pathway to becoming an HSI. By elevating student perspectives, we gain essential insights into the needs and aspirations of our Latinx/e students and other underrepresented communities. This enriched understanding empowers us to tailor our initiatives, ensuring that Cal Poly becomes an HSI with purpose on purpose.

Mission

1. Identify and address needs in campus services and resources for Latinx/e students. 

2. Advocate for policies and initiatives that better serve the Latinx/e student community.

3. Ensure that student perspectives are at the forefront of decision-making processes related to HSI initiatives and grant funding pursuits. 

Participants

Latinx Cultural Association (LCA)

Latinx Cultural Association is a social club that works to foster an inclusive community for Latinx students on campus. They do so through bi-weekly general meetings during the quarter where they celebrate a different Latin American country each week (including an educational presentation on the country). Within their club they provide opportunities for members to get involved through their different committees: Familias, Cultural Education, Performance, Fundraiser, and Sports. In being a social club, they also plan events such as (but not limited to) bonfires, carne asadas, movie nights, banquets, etc.

Latinos In Agriculture (LIA)

Latinos in Agriculture is a professional, social, and cultural club dedicated to providing a home away from home for underrepresented students in CAFES. They foster students’ success in higher education by bringing professional, academic, and social opportunities to their members while also providing a fun experience. They welcome all majors and identities; you don’t have to be from a Latinx background. They offer a cultural support system that is safe and welcoming, hosting events like 26 Hours of Science and Technology in Agriculture and DATE: Discovering Agriculture the Transfer Experience, and connecting students with resources necessary for their success.

Latinx Business Student Association (LBSA)

LBSA hopes to encourage and promote the development of tomorrow’s future leaders from all backgrounds and career fields. They strive to equip every member with the fundamental skills, relationships, and expertise necessary to successfully launch their professional careers. LBSA is geared towards fortifying the academic and professional goals of underrepresented students by unifying and empowering our growing community. Their pillars are family, professionalism, academics, and community service.

Society of Professional Hispanic Engineers (SHPE)

SHPE is a professional and social Hispanic engineering club. The club provides resources to be better prepared for interviews and career fairs. Companies are brought to meetings to learn more about them and for any potential internship opportunities. SHPE is one big Familia and through social events such as intramural sports, bonfires, collaborations with other clubs, and many more, they can get to know one another. SHPE is for anyone even if you are not an engineering major or Hispanic. 

Movimiento Estudiantil Xicano de Aztlan (MEXA)

MEXA is a cultural, social, and political group that promotes higher education among Latinx and Chicanx-identifying students. The group is dedicated to supporting higher education for academic success, formulating political thought, and discussing topics and issues that affect our ethnicity regularly.  

Puente 

Puente translates from Spanish to bridge because they like to say that they create the bridge to success. The Puente Program is a state-funded program generally found in Northern California high schools and community colleges as a college preparatory program. At Cal Poly, they are a club that advances the lineage of Puente beyond their high school graduation or associate's degree. This year is the first year that Puente has expanded onto college campuses to have former Puente students from high schools or community colleges come onto campus and feel an immediate community that they can identify with. Along with being a social club for Puentistas, they also host several campus tours for Puentistas who are thinking about applying to Cal Poly. Puente is important because it mainly serves low-income, first-generation students to restore equity and help them cross the bridge. Puente is a family, and it is open to anyone who wants to succeed, but especially those who want to see others succeed! 

TRiO Achievers

TRIO Achievers program, also known as Student Support Services (SSS), is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and has been a part of Cal Poly services to students since 1984. They provide assistance to at least 258 active students every year. The services they provide to students include academic advising, tutoring, career information, help with financial aid concerns, workshops, and help understanding academic policies and procedures and many more!