Dear Colleagues,
With a growing recognition of the value racial, ethnic and gender equity in the STEM workforce as a tool for accelerating innovation, the nation's Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) have an important role to play as culturally relevant institutions of higher education serving a growing US demographic. A number of powerful but small organizations and institutions — such as the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, Excelencia in Education, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities — have been working to elevate evidenced-based policies and strategies to increase the enrollment, retention, and success of Latinx students in STEM fields.
San Diego State University is hosting ACCESS 2020, a workshop that convenes a diverse collaboration of practitioners at Hispanic-Serving Institutions throughout the country. The workshop is an innovative and novel contribution to the national conversation on HSI climate and culture for faculty and student success.
The goal of the convening will be to form an Action Collaborative that reflects the critical goals associated with leveraging HSI research enterprises in developing a diverse STEM workforce at HSIs:
- Raise awareness about the value of diverse technical teams that function equitably, the opportunities, and approaches for enhancing the contributions of HSIs and their students.
- Share and elevate evidence-based policies and strategies for increasing the participation of HSI students in STEM disciplines.
- Contribute to setting a research agenda, and gather and apply research results across institutions.
- Support existing standards for measuring progress toward improving outcomes for Latinx students in STEM.
- Seed a community of practice through co-commitment and mutual accountability to change.
In this research, collaboration and workforce workshop, attendees will explore how a university's research enterprise can be a novel demonstration of campus intentionality, contribute to culture change, and influence and support HSI identity and mission. Workshop themes include funding opportunities and strategies that enhance research productivity, how to implement best practices for engaging Latinx students in STEM research and, most importantly, how to challenge and transform your organization to fully embrace and empower your Hispanic identity.
The ACCESS Workshop will have multi-track content for both institutional leaders and campus practitioners, as well as opportunities to engage with funders, stakeholders and others interested in embracing identity and advancing the research agenda at Hispanic Serving Institutions. Researchers are invited to bring your experiences and strengths to the table as we engage the research enterprise as a vital component of HSI identity.
The workshop will be held on the San Diego State University campus, April 5-7 2020.
Registration is open until February 28, or when all slots are filled. To review the agenda and register to attend, please visit the following website: https://research.sdsu.edu/access/conference_registration
Thank you.
Kathleen Nolan, Director, ANR Office of Contracts & Grants (OCG)