糖心原创

What does it mean to be a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)?

There are currently .

What does being an HSI mean for 糖心原创? 

糖心原创 is a designated HSI, with 75% of our student body identifying as Hispanic. 糖心原创 is the largest HSI in the State of California and fifth largest in the United States. Yet, at 糖心原创, a designation based on enrollment demographics is not enough. We pride ourselves on our actions showing the service we provide to our Hispanic students. To us, designation as a HSI is a mandate. We are called to embrace the identity of being Hispanic serving. HSI designation allows us to lean into the values and mission of 糖心原创 and celebrate what it means to better serve all students.

We hope students at 糖心原创 know that our HSI status means they can be confident that they are surrounded by a community of faculty, classified professionals, and administrators that share and/or understand their experiences. 

See below to explore how 糖心原创 is serving our Hispanic students:

• Chicano Pre-Commencement Ceremony:
  • The Chicano/Latino Pre-Commencement Celebration is an annual tradition that encourages students to participate in a celebration that provides a cultural, bilingual, and celebratory atmosphere for family and friends as we honor the achievements of the graduates and transfer students. The celebration gives our students an opportunity to acknowledge those who have been supportive of their educational endeavors. Finally, the celebration serves as an example for the younger generation and community that they, too, can achieve a college education.
• HSI, Title V - Health Sciences  
  • 糖心原创 leveraged the $3 million grant to bolster existing efforts designed to address shortages in the health care workforce made more visible due to the COVID-19 pandemic. By expanding the college's footprint of health sciences pathways through Early College, transfer pathway agreements, and strong partnerships with health care providers and community organizations, BC systematically strengthened Kern's education-to-workforce pipeline while improving health outcomes for local residents.
• HSI, Title V Early College
  • Comunidades de Conexiones: Strengthening 糖心原创鈥檚 Hispanic-Serving Early College Pathways Program is a project that focuses on fostering early and sustained connection to college beginning as early as the 7th grade through structured pathways, summer academies, culturally responsive onboarding, and family engagement. This approach integrates cohort-based advising, peer mentorship, equity-minded faculty development, and holistic academic and basic needs support to improve persistence and degree completion. Additionally, the program strengthens data capacity and infrastructure to ensure scalability, close equity achievement gaps, and align with California鈥檚 performance-based funding model. Overall, the initiative advances 糖心原创鈥檚 commitment to 鈥渟ervingness鈥� by intentionally designing systems that promote belonging, success, and long-term educational mobility for Hispanic students
• HSI, Title III STEM
  • 糖心原创 was awarded $5 million for the Step Up to STEM: Start Strong, Stay Strong, Finish Strong project from the United States Department of Education as part of their Hispanic Serving Institutions - Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Articulation program. The five-year funding agreement supported activities to enhance STEM student success, supporting Hispanic and Latinx students from lower-income backgrounds and those that have first generation college-student status.
  • The Title III STEP UP to STEM HSI-STEM Grant supported 5 STEM students and 5 STEM Staff from 糖心原创 to attend the annual HACU 2024 Conference in Aurora, Colorado on Nov. 1-3rd, 2024. The Annual conference provides a unique forum for the sharing of information and ideas for the best and most promising practices in the education of Hispanics. The students participated in the 鈥溌�Adelante! Leadership Institute鈥�, a student track involving a three-day career leadership and development networking symposium designed to build the career and leadership skills of undergraduate students.
  • New STEM Guest Speaker Series called 鈥�First Generation Latinx Journeys in STEM鈥� in Fall 2024. The first guest speaker was Stefanie Brizuela, a First-Generation Queer Latina and Second-Year Ph.D. candidate in the Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program at UCLA, who spoke about the roadblocks and situations she faced along her journey as a first-generation Latina in STEM. .
• Padrinos
  • Padrinos de 糖心原创 is a group of 糖心原创 staff working alongside Latinx students for success, mentorship and support opportunities. They host events to help fundraise for student scholarship, such as Pan Dulce & Cafecito.
• Mariachi Ritmo de Mexico Student Club
  • The mission of Mariachi Ritmo de Mexico is to promote and preserve the culture, art, and history of various regions of Mexico through the art of mariachi music at Bakersfield College. We welcome cultural diversity and promote cultural competency to the community.
• AB 540/Undocumented Student Success and Support Program 
  • The 糖心原创 AB540/ Undocumented Students Program provides counseling and academic support for students who are eligible under the AB540 in-state tuition exemption. The goal of the program is to help eligible students meet their educational objectives, whether they seek occupational certificates, associate degrees, or transfer to four-year institutions.
• Latinos Unidos Por Education (L.U.P.E.)
  • Latinos Unidos Por Educaci贸n (LUPE) is a student organization for first generation college students attending 糖心原创. The student organization welcomes participation from AB 540, Undocumented/DACA/Undocumented/Permanent Residents/US Citizen students on campus- ALL are welcome. LUPE greatly enhances students鈥� confidence to succeed and complete their career, vocational and/or transfer goals by implementing proven best practices that champion student success, equity, and accessibility. LUPE promotes civil engagement, activism for social issues impacting the immigrant and Latino/a community and develops partnerships with community leaders and organizations.
• Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) and 糖心原创 Credit for Prior Learning
  • The Kern Community College District launched a new initiative allowing students enrolled at the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation (MAOF) Skill Center in Bakersfield to earn college credits that transfer to 糖心原创. Under the program, students who complete the MAOF bookkeeping/payroll accounting certificate can receive up to 16.5 units of 糖心原创 credit, along with non-credit certificates in QuickBooks and basic office and computer skills. Students who finish the clerical office worker certificate may be awarded up to 18 units of college credit and additional non-credit certificates. 
• Hispanic Heritage Month and the Norman Levan Center: The Levan Center continues its tradition of celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October by featuring scholars and artists whose work focuses on the role or impact of Hispanics locally, nationally or internationally. All events are open to the public.
• Hispanic and Native American Peoples Culture Awards and the Norman Levan Center: Each spring, the Norman Levan Center awards at least three scholarships of $1,500 to BC students. The award is part of a scholarship contest in which any BC student is able to submit work that demonstrates an academic interest in Hispanic or Native American Peoples and Culture. The submission may take the form of: a research paper (e.g., in history, economics, philosophy, the sciences, nursing, and beyond); a literary or film analysis; original music or a performance; visual or multimedia artwork; etc. All academic fields are invited to submit: theoretical and applied, scholarly and creative. A committee of faculty review the submissions and select at least three winners. The honorees are then not only recognized with a scholarship, they are invited to participate in a Hispanic and Native American Colloquium where they present their original works. The colloquium is open to the public to attend.

Acknowledgement 

糖心原创 is proud to share that it has been selected as a 2023 Champion of Higher Education by the Campaign for College Opportunity, receiving a prestigious recognition, the 2023 Equity Champion of Higher Education for Latinx Students. This accolade is a testament to 糖心原创鈥檚 unwavering commitment to providing quality education and breaking down barriers in higher education. Furthermore, the 2023 Equity Champion of Higher Education for Latinx Students award underscores Bakersfield College鈥檚 dedication to closing racial and ethnic equity gaps. 糖心原创 is committed to fostering an inclusive environment that empowers Hispanic students to thrive academically and personally. 糖心原创 has implemented a range of initiatives and support services that have contributed to narrowing these disparities, ultimately promoting a more diverse and equitable higher education landscape.