Latinx Thriving Initiatives

In 2018, Chancellor Carol Christ announced UC Berkeley’s commitment to become a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) within the next ten years, one of the ‘boldest goals’ in the university’s strategic plan(link is external). Becoming an HSI is not just about a designation based on meeting a numerical target. We are striving to create a campus where every student thrives. In the Chancellor’s words, this happens through “the commitment that all students have equal access to Berkeley’s extraordinary opportunities.” 

Becoming an HSI is not an end goal but a continual space to develop “servingness” which is conceptualized as the ability of HSIs to enroll and educate Latinx students through a culturally-enhancing approach that centers Latinx ways of knowing and being, with the goal of providing transformative experiences that lead to both academic and non-academic outcomes.

As a public institution, the University of California, Berkeley has a responsibility to serve the people of California, which includes reflecting the demographics of our state; being a vehicle for social mobility and equity; and providing education, research, and public service to California, the nation, and the world. 

This effort stands on the shoulders of all the students, alumni, staff, and faculty who have worked for decades to support Berkeley’s Latinx community. Our Latinx Thriving Initiatives will leverage Berkeley’s Latinx community’s diversity and strengths, honoring the specificity and diversity of communities, collective knowledge, cultural identities and experiences that exist within it. Receiving a federal HSI designation is just a part of this journey. The vision is far greater.

In Gratitude: The path toward a Latinx Thriving university has been paved by the tireless efforts of our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners -- lxs activistxs -- whose contributions and dedication throughout history have guided us here. To all of you, we are eternally grateful.