Why We Focus on Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are the fastest growing sector of higher education, and enroll over 60% of all Latinx college students and substantial numbers of Native, African American, and first generation college students. HSI faculty, staff and administrators have an incredible opportunity to move the needle on Latinx student retention, graduation, and post-baccalaureate aspirations.

Using Self-Reflection to Drive Change

ESCALA's programs are based on a self-reflective model of change.  We know from experience working with more than 30 HSIs and 600 faculty and staff that:

• changing the habitual way we do our work is difficult;
• it is crucial that we examine our mindsets as well as our practices;
• it takes time for us to implement strategies we hear about and have them become our own.

For these reasons we don't like to do one-shot workshops where we meet with a particular group only once. Our programs are most effective when we have time to build a level of trust with your faculty and staff, and then help them examine how well their practices are working through coaching and continuous reflection on data.

Read about our 2021 programs

Faculty working together, over time, is a powerful way to make changes for students that last. Hear how Yakima Valley College, Central Washington University, and Heritage University worked collectively with ESCALA to be more Hispanic Serving for students in Yakima Valley. Video Credit: Peter Monahan, Efrain de la Torre, and Wilma Dulin.

Dr. Chris Harmon, Chemistry Professor at Humboldt State University and ESCALA peer faculty coach, reflects on the changes he's made to his course exams and the impact its had on student learning.
​Video Credit: Humboldt State University Center for Teaching and Learning

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Call our office at  505-423-5521
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