As Oregon’s first and only four-year institution to earn the National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) designation from the Department of Education, Warner Pacific University is proud to celebrate our Hispanic and Latinx students. Throughout Hispanic Heritage month, WPU will host activities designed to educate our community on the experiences of our Hispanic and Latinx students. These events include a special Student Senate discussion on being Hispanic and/or Latinx at WPU, a Health Justice Learning Series focused on Hispanic health, an education display on the Pan-Hispanic diaspora. The month will culminate in a Celebration of Hispanic Culture on October 7, 2020.
HSI Week (September 14-20) marks the start of Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15- October 15) at Warner Pacific University. HSIs Week is observed by colleges and universities across the nation who belong to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). The Hispanic-Serving Institution designation requires over 25 percent of full-time students identify as Hispanic or Latino. There are currently 539 HSIs across the U. S, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. HSI week activities are intended to heighten awareness of the important role these institutions play in improving access to education and advancing equity for traditionally underserved students.
The HSI designation benefits all Warner Pacific students, as it opens the door to scholarships to any student who attends an institution that is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, regardless of race or ethnicity. Federal agencies that provide grants and scholarships to students attending HACU institutions include the departments of Agriculture, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.