HSI Strategic Plan

Vision, Mission, and Hispanic Serving Initiatives Goals

University Vision

To be one of the nation’s premier urban public research universities, known for providing impactful applied learning experiences and driving prosperity for the people and communities we serve.

University Mission

The mission of Wichita State University is to be an essential EDUCATIONAL, CULTURAL and ECONOMIC DRIVER for Kansas and the greater public good.

Hispanic Serving Initiatives Goal

As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution, Wichita State University is committed to serving students and promoting a campus culture that holistically supports student success. Through partnerships with campus and community collaborations, we strive to advocate for students and their families in obtaining an education and meeting the needs of our changing demographics.

Strategic Goals for Wichita State University

Student Centeredness: Promote holistic student success through a supportive learning environment in which all of our students — past, present and future —continually thrive and grow.

Research and Scholarship: Accelerate the discovery, creation and transfer of new knowledge.

Campus Culture: Empower students, faculty, staff and the greater Wichita community to create a culture and experience that meets their ever-changing needs. Inclusive Excellence Be a campus that reflects and promotes – in all community members – the evolving diversity of society.

Partnerships and Engagement: Advance industry and community partnerships to provide quality educational opportunities and collaborations to satisfy rapidly evolving community and workforce needs.

Visit the WSU Strategic Plan website

HSI Strategic Planning Team

Sara Mata, Ph.D., Executive Director of HSI Initiatives
Brian Austin, Director of Employer Relations
Dyana Baca, Office Specialist, ISLE Department
Bobby Berry, Ed.D., Assistant Dean, Assistant Professor College of Applied Studies
Yolanda Camarena, Board President, Kansas Hispanic Education & Development Foundation
Jaya Escobar, Associate Director of Upward Bound Wichita Prep
Jennifer Friend, Ph.D., Dean of College of Applied Studies
Bobby Gandu, Assistant Vice President, Strategic Enrollment Management & Undergraduate Admissions
Jim Granada, Ed.D., Associate Teaching Professor and Director of Transition to Teaching Program
Aaron Hamilton, Director of OneStop Student Services
Ashlie Jack, Ph.D., Senior Associate Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Enrollment Management
Ana Lazarin, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion College of Engineering
Shirley Lefever, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and Provost
Dyanna Munoz, Graduate Academic Advisor, College of Applied Studies
Jean Patterson, Ed,D., Professor & Educational Leadership Doctoral Program Coordinator
Valeria Paunetto, Undergraduate Social Work Student
Yarid Pizarro, Undergraduate Communication Student
Edil Torres Rivera, Ph.D., Professor of Counseling & Latinx Cluster Coordinator
Valerie Thompson, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Ed. Leadership & Ed Psychology

Phase 1 FY 2023-2024

Strategic Goal: Student Centeredness

Initiative: Examine programs supporting Latinx students and strengthening collaborating with those efforts
Initiative: Develop and sustain annually, the WSU Herencia – “Heritage” -Bridge Program with high school students starting their senior year
Initiative: Implement of Spanish translation for WSU Graduation
Initiative: Create and utilize WSU Latine Faculty and Staff directory for student access

Strategic Goal: Research and Scholarship

Initiative: Provide a clear understanding of the data and programs supporting our Hispanic students at WSU so we have a better understanding of strengths and areas of improvement
Initiative: Support faculty and staff to utilize retention and persistence data and information to promote research initiatives
Initiative: Partner with Delfin and promote on campus with faculty and staff

Strategic Goal: Campus Culture

Initiative: Develop Somos Shockers campaign – “We are Shockers” - stickers and buttons, posters, presence and visibility on campus, in K-12 schools &community
Initiative: Build HSI WSU webpage content and social media multi-platform pages/posts that leads to activities, educational information and events
Initiative: Provide educational opportunities for university campus throughout the year related to What is HSI? Strategic Goal: Partnerships and Engagement
Initiative: Work with Housing and Residence Life to supporting students’ sense of belonging and consider a living learning community
Initiative: Build relationships with Educate CC advisors to strengthen the understanding of the benefit of attending WSU/completing a 4-year degree in terms of career, income
Initiative: Work with Career Services to strengthen access to opportunities for paid applied learning (internships, on-the-job training) targeting diverse student and bilingual positions

Strategic Goal: Inclusive Excellence

Initiative: Formalize a Latine Faculty and Staff Association to support current and future faculty and staff at WSU
Initiative: Implement and provide training for DREAM Zone
Initiative: Implement training for faculty related to improving cultural relevancy

Phase 2 FY 2024-2025

Strategic Goal: Student Centeredness

Initiative: Build a presence in middle school and high school- Collaborate withAdmissions to reach and present at family nights, carnivals, English/AVID classrooms, and ESOL classrooms and spaces to help students see beyond the façade of higher education

Initiative: Work with First Year Programming to support initiatives to includeSpanish-speaking parents and families

Initiative: Develop and expand spaces for students to feel they belong and stay engaged for studying, seeking academic assistance, collaboration with peers and the sense of belonging

Strategic Goal: Research and Scholarship

Initiative: Explore the experiences of Latinx students in regard to retention and persistence

Initiative: Develop a breakdown of colleges related to strengths and areas of improvement in serving Latine students

Initiative: Investigate and pursue grant funding to support the efforts for HSI initiatives and work in preparation for becoming an HSI

Strategic Goal: Campus Culture

Initiative: Provide updates each semester through faculty senate and staff senate to engage faculty and staff in the initiatives that are taking place and to receive feedback

Initiative: Develop HSI Fellows for Colleges and Departments to infuse promising practices related to Latine students, faculty, and staff

Initiative: Focus on supporting transfer students and ease the process to include family

Strategic Goal: Partnerships and Engagement

Initiative: Improve/create clear transfer pathways for students by creating 2+2 agreements (WSU Tech, Butler CC, Hutchinson CC, other CC); Promote 2+2 opportunities (CC + WSU) – facilitate events at CC and at WSU with people who look like the students we are recruiting

Initiative: Create a ‘hub’ space on campus to connect with K-12 students – bring students to campus for experiences-WSU Connect

Initiative: Connect with partners – Spirit, NICHE and restaurants, entrepreneurs and real estate

Initiative: Implement Financial Literacy education for students and families inEnglish and Spanish

Strategic Goal: Inclusive Excellence

Initiative: Recruitment: Partner with HR in training to assist in the process of hiring diverse faculty within colleges

Initiative: Retention: Create a retention specialist for diverse faculty to allow more intentional and holistic support

Initiative: Implement a Statewide HSI Consortium

Phase 3 FY 2025-2026

Strategic Goal: Student Centeredness

Initiative: Create a peer advocate and staff advocate model for Latinx students

Initiative: Find avenues to employ and support student workers whose focus is promoting and supporting the experiences of students of color

Initiative: Assess scholarships and financial opportunities to support students living on campus

Strategic Goal: Research and Scholarship

Initiative: Deliver a research and graduate symposium focused on supporting underrepresented students to aspire to graduate education and promote faculty(s)research related to underrepresented communities

Initiative: Support opportunities for students to conduct research related to aspects related to HSI efforts or understanding the experiences of Latine students at WSU

Initiative: Continuously examine data to speak to barriers to advance collaborative research and grant opportunities

Strategic Goal: Campus Culture

Initiative: Build collaboration to support service for faculty and staff related to evaluations and appraisal process

Initiative: Partner with community organizations to organize culturally relevant conversations, social engagements, and personal development

Initiative: Strengthen relationships and collaborations with athletics and visibility in marketing pertaining heritage month recognitions

Strategic Goal: Partnerships and Engagement

Initiative: Formally engage with Alumni and Foundation to connect and showcase Latinx graduates from WSU

Initiative: Connect and serve students through intentional programming in their junior and senior years of college (similar to Lead to Succeed) through a bridge program that connects them to career services, connection with community for persistence and support, mentoring, and internship experiences

Initiative: Create solidarity efforts of the Latine Faculty/Staff Association andAfrican American Faculty/Staff Association (AFSA)

Initiative: Build on industry relationships and partnerships such as Cargill to promote opportunities for students and industries interests and investments

Strategic Goal: Inclusive Excellence

Initiative: Create and implement a model of support for faculty to ensure they are delivering an inclusive curriculum through their course syllabi, course material, use of textbook, and course delivery

Initiative: Develop awareness of diversity through campus-wide communication (e.g. newsletter, articles, podcasts)

Initiative: Build on effort to strengthen Spanish and ESL efforts for community and campus