Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program
The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program provides grants to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities for and improve the attainment of Hispanic students.
These grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality and institutional stability.
La Promesa Azul (The Blue Promise)
In October 2022, Elmhurst University received a Title V DHSI grant titled La Promesa Azul (The Blue Promise): Creating Opportunities and Enhancing Resources to Assure and Sustain Success for Hispanic and Underrepresented Students at Elmhurst University. The HSI Grant is a 5-year, $2.99m grant ($3.4m total) beginning October 1, 2022.
This competitive grant strengthens Elmhurst University’s ability to strengthen programs to attract, retain and graduate outstanding students. The grant goals align with the University’s efforts to support academic development and career attainment of all our students with an emphasis on Hispanic/Latinx, first-generation and underrepresented students.
La Promesa Azul Goals
Establecer El Centro de la Promesa Azul
- This Center will
- Serve as a support and engagement hub for essential university services and will promote community and collaboration.
- Embed cultural responsiveness into services and programs for academic success, career and vocational planning, and wellness and cultural programming
- serve as a culturally affirming space that students can engage in and build stronger ties to the Elmhurst community.
Garantizar que cada estudiante de Elmhurst reciba un sólido apoyo para la transición a la universidad fortaleciendo las oportunidades de enseñanza y aprendizaje de los estudiantes del seminario de primer año.
- Establish a faculty development training program on culturally responsive teaching, high-impact practices, and supporting the college transition for underserved students.
- Review and revise the First-Year Seminar program to better support the transition to college and incorporate culturally responsive teaching.
Increase student participation in High-Impact Practices (HIPs) by increasing access and removing obstacles. HIPs include internships, study abroad, undergraduate research, and service learning.
Aumentar la participación de estudiantes en Prácticas de Alto Impacto mediante el aumento del acceso y la eliminación de obstáculos. Las prácticas de alto impacto incluyen pasantías, estudios en el extranjero, investigación de pregrado y aprendizaje-servicio.
- Providing support funds for Latinx/Hispanic, low-income, and first-generation students to complete high-impact practices such as internships, undergraduate research, service learning, or study away programs.
- Provide informational sessions to increase awareness among students and families about the value and transformational nature of high-impact practices.
Milestones & Achievement
Grant Year 1
- The HSI Grant supported:
- Five students with funding to participate in various high-impact practices
- Joanna Cervantes | Internship with the Illinois State Police
- Ismael Curiel | Undergraduate research project
- Fernanda Diaz | Undergraduate research project
- Stephanie Medina | Internship with Shedd Aquarium
- Mark Pullen | Service-Learning Project with EU Heritage Garden
- Six faculty members in the completion of the Certificate in College Teaching and Learning in HSIs
- Vania Adams | School of Business
- Colleen Munro-Leighton |School of Science, Technology and Mathematics
- Theresa Robinson | School of Education
- Samuel Rush | School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Natasha Strother | School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Mladen Turk | School of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
- Five students with funding to participate in various high-impact practices
- El Centro de la Promesa Azul Grand Opening
- Read More
- All grant staff hired and onboarded
- Director of El Centro de la Promesa Azul
- Wellness Case Manager
- High-Impact and Community Partnerships Coordinator
For more information on the Title V DHSI Grant, please contact DHSI Project Director Karina Rivera ([email protected]).