HSU awarded $2.7 million to support Hispanic students pursuing teaching careers

ARCATA, Calif. — Humboldt State University is one of four campuses within the California State University system that received a total of $12.9 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) program, according to the university.

HSU's School of Education will receive the award over the next five years. The funding is meant to enrich teacher pathway courses and to strengthen HSU’s commitment to support Hispanic and low-income students.

“Because the project focuses on undergraduate preparation, it will increase the number of students who receive the advising and support to develop the knowledge and skills needed to be an exceptional teacher,” School of Education Professor Mary Dingle said. Dingle wrote the grant with Kinesiology & Recreation Administration Professor Chris Hopper and Erika Wright of HSU’s Sponsored Programs Foundation Programs.

The CSU plays a significant role in enhancing teacher diversity, with the majority of its teacher candidates being of color and more than one-third being Hispanic. Additionally, 21 CSU campuses--including HSU--are Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and are continuously recognized as being among the nation’s top universities enrolling and granting degrees to the most Hispanic students.

At HSU, where approximately 34 percent of students are Hispanic, DHSI funds will advance the recruitment and preparation of future educators by:

• Creating learning communities that facilitate students’ transition to HSU, develop foundational academic skills, and provide immersive experiences.
• Integrating academic student services to increase access to campus and community resources that enable students to succeed academically and to graduate.
• Offering a variety of cultural-based activities in collaboration with the Latinx Center for Academic Excellence.

These are among several HSU efforts at HSU to foster a new generation of teachers. The University redesigned its Liberal Studies/Elementary Education (LSEE) program" allowing students to earn a degree in four years. A four-year pathway is also being developed for special education teachers in collaboration with the Department of Child Development. The Department of Kinesiology, in collaboration with the School of Education, was awarded a $249,798 grant to prepare more teachers to teach physical education programs to students with disabilities. Additionally, in 2016, the University was awarded a $3.9 million grant" by the Department of Education to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) majors.