Mel Rising Dawn Cordeiro
News Editor
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has announced $226,000 in federal funding to enhance Latino college students' success at Rhode Island College. This initiative, part of a broader effort to increase educational opportunities for underserved communities, will provide essential resources and support systems to help Latino students thrive academically.
This funding will facilitate various programs focused on improving retention and graduation rates among Latino students, ensuring they receive the assistance necessary to navigate their college experience. Senator Whitehouse emphasized the importance of investing in education to promote equity and access to higher education.
President Jack Warner expressed gratitude for the support, highlighting its potential to create a more inclusive environment and bolster student success. The funding reflects a commitment to addressing the educational disparities Latino students face and fostering a diverse academic community.
RIC, having received this designation in 2022, is the first higher education institution in Rhode Island to receive the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation. This recognition is granted to colleges where at least 25% of the student population identifies as Hispanic or Latinx. Eligibility must be met annually.
HSI status is a recognition of RIC's growing student diversity and its dedication to expanding access to higher education for all Rhode Islanders. HSIs tend to serve high concentrations of diverse populations that have historically been underrepresented in higher education, have high percentages of low-income students, and serve a large number of first-generation college students. Nearly 40% of undergraduates identify as people of color and nearly half identify as the first in their families to attend college, the school educates the most economically, culturally and racially diverse cross-section of Rhode Islanders of any four-year institution in the state. The exact number for the school year beginning in Fall 2024 is unavailable at the time of publication due to the administration not having finished processing admission rates.
“One of Rhode Island College's greatest strengths is the diversity of our students. As a Latina born and raised in Rhode Island, I have seen and lived these demographic changes over the years,” says Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Anna Cano-Morales. “Hispanic Serving Institution designation is a recognition of that growing diversity, as well as our commitment to ensuring that we also create actionable and institution-wide changes leading to equity and inclusion. We are proud that our campus community continues to be more representative of the state that it serves every year."
Rhode Island’s population has remained relatively the same over the last four years, having a little over 1 million people. Of those million, in 2023, 18% said they were of Hispanic or Latino heritage. The number of Hispanic and Latino people is expected to grow in the coming years. RIC’s HSI status will continue to serve the students and more in the years to come.
It’s fantastic to hear that federal funding has been secured to support Latino students! It reminds me a bit of Wordle Unlimited—where each word you guess brings you closer to the solution, just like each investment in education helps bring us closer to building a brighter future. Both require persistence, strategy, and a focus on long-term goals!