Becoming an HSI
The University of Northern Colorado is a Students First university committed to serving Hispanic, Chicana/o/x, and Latina/o/x-identifying students, faculty, staff, alumni, the local community, and our region. Based on the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging, we will develop and implement policies, structures, and culturally responsive pedagogy and practices to increase the educational and career attainment, as well as social mobility, of these populations. Through the success of being a federally designated HSI combined with the thoughtful and intentional effort of servingness by all members of the university community, we will contribute to the success of every student while making gains in closing educational equity gaps present at our university. In addition, UNC will continue its long tradition of preparing and graduating leaders who serve and enrich Colorado's culture and economy. We know that doing so will positively impact people's lives and the future of our state.
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Welcome to Bear Country. ¡Te va a encantar!
Apply today and join students like Andrea in gaining a UNC education that will take you to the first or next step in your career.
We approach our work with the following vision elements:
The same vision elements frame UNC's 10-year strategic plan Rowing, Not Drifting 2030.
Students First:
Integrating resources, services and strategies for the benefit of students and demonstrating
accountability to ensuring their success.
Empower Inclusivity:
Providing equal access to opportunities and resources for students who in the past may have otherwise been excluded
or marginalized.
Enhance & Invest:
Purpose driven institutional and philanthropic investment in supporting campus and
programmatic enhancements geared toward student completion and graduation.
Innovate & Create:
Developing an institutional structure focused on building capacity in instruction,
faculty and staff development, inclusive hiring practices and advocacy for equitable policy.
Connect & Celebrate:
Promoting the excellence of our students by intentionally strengthening networks of
alumni, parents and support people and business and community leadership.
Fall 2022 in Photos
Part of servingness is seeing Hispanic and Latinx culture and people represented on campus, in our faculty and staff, and in leadership roles. This fall, we had the opportunity to host culturally reflective programs, collaborate with internal and external campus partners on highlighting Latinx-identifying students and alumni, and create space for additional representation through cultural artifacts. Swipe through the photos to see what we were up to these last few months. ¡Vamos Osos!
Latinx-identifying leadership, faculty, and staff representing UNC at the 36th Annual Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities Conference
Dia de los Muertos altar display by students in UNC's Chicana/o and Latinx Studies department in collaboration with the Mexican Cultural Center
UNC HSI leadership alongside representatives from the Colorado Department of Higher Education and Metropolitan State University of Denver
César Chávez Cultural Center staff and students at UNC's Latinx Heritage Tailgate
UNC alumnus Brandon Torrez '99, '02 highlighted on-field at UNC Football
Guests attending UNC's ¡Adelante! bilingual admissions event
Alumni volunteers Teresa Castro '21 and Alejandro Garcia '17 share their college experiences with students and families attending ¡Adelante!
Bilingual Financial Aid presentations for potential students and families
200+ attendees at the CDHE's visit to UNC for their tour of HSIs
UNC alumna Nancy Wendirad '05 highlighted on-field at UNC Football
UNC students at UNC's Latinx Heritage Tailgate
Students participating in activities at UNC's Latinx Heritage Tailgate
Student participants engaging in HSI efforts at the CDHE's visit to UNC
Student artists from UNC's College of Performing and Visual Arts performing Spanish-language songs during our event hosting the Colorado Department of Higher Education
Student artists from both the UNC's College of Performing & Visual Arts and Chicana/o and Latinx Studies department standing next to artist and lecturer Leo Tanguma in front of their collaborative mural
Dia de los Muertos altar display by students in UNC's Chicana/o and Latinx Studies department
UNC staff and faculty enjoying the closing session of the 36th Annual HACU conference
Last year, the Morales family attended ¡Adelante! to learn more about the college process, now Angel Guillermo and his brother Erick are both college students
HSI leadership serve students, faculty, and staff pozole during the fall semester's HSI Community Lunch. Left to right, photo shows Chris, Tobias, and Jonathan after serving pozole.
Latina student graduating in UNC's Fall 2022 commencement ceremonies.
"I hope that UNC becoming an HSI will make me feel like I'm at home on campus. Where I can hear the sounds of my people, and see the colors of my culture reflected in the very fibers of UNC."
— Brenda Vargas '23, UNC Student
