Guiding SSU’s Hispanic-Serving Vision and Accountability

The HSI Advisory Council, co-chaired by Dean Laura Alamillo and Professor Robert Train, brings together representatives from across Sonoma State University, the local community, and SSU alumni. The Council was established in response to the HSI Task Force Recommendation Report completed in December 2020.

The Council’s primary goal is to develop a comprehensive HSI Success Framework grounded in the concept of servingness (Gina et al., 2019). Servingness emphasizes a shift from simply enrolling Latinx students to actively serving and supporting their success—through external structures such as policy and governance, and internal dimensions including mission alignment, HSI grants, curriculum design, student engagement, and diversity initiatives.

This work aligns closely with Sonoma State University’s Strategic Plan and Graduation Initiative 2025, reflecting SSU’s deep commitment to equity, belonging, and student achievement.

For a deeper understanding of servingness, we encourage you to explore this article.

Charge of the Advisory Council

1. Identify Barriers — Examine institutional obstacles that hinder Hispanic, Latino/a, Latinx, Latine, Afro-Latino/a/x, and Chicano/a/x students from achieving their full potential.

2. Policy and Practice Recommendations — Review campus policies, practices, and procedures and recommend changes to better support student success and equitable outcomes.

3. Analyze Campus Climate Data — Evaluate campus climate data to identify areas of strength and improvement, enhancing SSU’s ability to serve the Latinx community—students, staff, faculty, administrators, and the wider region.

4. Seal of Excelencia — Serve as the governing body responsible for securing and maintaining SSU’s Seal of Excelencia, ensuring continued progress toward re-certification every three years.