LA VERNE, California (March 16, 2017) — About 80 college educators and administrators from across California gathered today on the campus of the University of La Verne to discuss what it means to serve Latino students in the context of state and national policies, as well as to share evidence-based practices.The state-wide symposium was held in the University of La Verne’s Abraham Campus Center on March 16.“Accelerated growth in the U.S. Hispanic population has led to a rapid rise in Latino enrollments at higher education institutions across the United States,” said the event’s synopsis on the University of La Verne’s website. This trend calls for college administrators in California to “choose how to intentionally serve rather than merely enroll Hispanic students.”

A key focus of the event was a live panel discussion titled Deconstructing Serving at HSIs: Individual Stories of Leadership and Practice, hosted by San Bernardino Valley College President Diana Z. Rodriguez, CSU Sacramento President Robert Nelson, and CSU Channel Islands President Erika Beck.(From left to right): panelists Robert Nelson, President — CSU Sacramento; Erika Beck, President — CSU Channel Islands; Diana Z. Rodriguez, President — San Bernardino Valley College.“I think it’s important that we, as educators, continue to strengthen our relationships with other colleges to help address any gaps in services that may have been overlooked,” said SBVC President Diana Z. Rodriguez. “I am proud to work in a college district that really values this type of cross-institutional collaboration.”

As of 2017, San Bernardino Valley College’s student population is about 60% Hispanic, with many being first-generation college students. SBVC has received federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and in 2015 became the first college in the state to open a Dreamers Resource Center, a counseling department that helps Dreamer students navigate the challenges of enrolling and attending college.

“Our college was created for our community,” said Rodriguez, “and it absolutely thrills me when I get to see how much our programs impact the lives of thousands of families in the Inland Empire on an annual basis.”