In 2022, only 48.3 percent of Arizona’s high school graduates enrolled in postsecondary education, falling short of the national average of 62 percent. Our state, local, and institutional data highlight the need for progress, especially given the challenges within our community. Pima Community College’s Strategic Plan includes two ambitious institutional goals:

• Increase completer counts to 6,000 by 2024-2025: This goal represents a 65% increase over the past six years, demonstrating our commitment to significantly boosting overall student success rates.
• Double the completer counts of Hispanic or Latino, American Indian, Alaska Native, and Black or African American learners by 2024-2025: This goal underscores our dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, and access by focusing on these specific underrepresented groups to transform our community through affordable education.

Research and institutional support for Pima as a Hispanic Serving Institution identify humanizing and culturally responsive practices as crucial for learner growth and success.

What is a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)?

• Federal Definition: 25% Hispanic identifying students
• Practice Definition: Intentional practices to ensure equitable access and achievement
• Cultural Definition: Using culturally responsive pedagogy to drive success for Latino identifying students (which also benefit all students).

“Servingness” at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) refers to the intentional efforts and practices aimed at genuinely serving the needs of Hispanic students beyond merely achieving the enrollment threshold required to be designated as an HSI. It encompasses a holistic approach to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes the academic success, cultural affirmation, and overall well-being of Hispanic students. In our classrooms, disciplines, and programs at PCC servingness appears in student-first approached in student services, institutional commitments, community engagements, and curriculum and pedagogy changed toward cultural relevance, responsiveness, and sustainability. Key aspects of an institution with a “north star” of servingness include:

• Student-centered academic support
• An inclusive campus climate
• Community engagement, partnerships, and outreach
• Institutional commitment in policy, practice, & leadership
• Data-driven decision making

Support Network: Excelencia in Education

Excelencia in Education is a national organization in the United States dedicated to accelerating Latino student success in higher education. Founded in 2004, the organization aims to address the disparities in educational achievement for Latino students and to support institutions in becoming more effective in serving this population.

Excelencia in Education also publishes regular research and studies, such as Latinos in Higher Education: 2024 Compilation of Fast Facts. It is a great resource for our College and our individual teaching and workplace practices.