Since 2000, Adams State University has been designated a Hispanic Serving Institution. This year, a week of events, from September 12 through September 16, will celebrate this distinction with a variety of speakers and activities.
According to Maria McMath, Title V grant activity director, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) encourages all HSI Institutions to observe National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) week. Each year, HACU Government Relations office works with several members of Congress to recognize the contributions of HSIs in their communities and submits a proclamation request to the White House. "The events raise awareness and helps build and promote campus-community partnerships."
The celebration begins on Monday with an Adams State HSI Information Fair and a lecture by keynote Dr. Jose Moreno, who will speak about Adams State revitalizing the general education curriculum to continue excellence and inclusion. McMath said Adams State continues to deliberately remain an Hispanic Serving Institution, rather than "accidently." Nearly 50 percent of the 2016 first-year class identified as being Hispanic. In the afternoon, faculty and staff can attend a professional development opportunity on mentoring and appreciative advising by Dr. Joel Givens and Dr. Penny Sanders.
A photography exhibit featuring San Luis Valley landscapes by artist Mike Rael will be on display throughout Tuesday, Sept. 13, in the McDaniel Hall solarium. Dr. Luis Trujillo, Adams State emeritus professor of Spanish, will be recognized posthumously for his contributions to the region’s study of language. "As we continue this tradition in the coming years, we plan to always feature a valley artist and honor a local community member during the week’s celebration," McMath said.
Wednesday, September 14, will feature programming all day for best practices on serving mixed status and undocumented families in higher education and ASU Model UN Club will perform a debate on immigration. That evening, the Adams State Lifeways Lecture will feature Norma Mendoza Torres, graduate of Harvard Kennedy School.
Faculty can take a refresher course on best practices in the classroom by Dr. Robert Benson, professor of geology, on Thursday, September 14. Benson will also speak at noon on the valley’s soil and water as a reflection of place. Dr. Robert Astalos, professor of physics, will make a planetarium presentation that afternoon and the Zacheis Planetarium will show free new movies en Español.
On Thursday, September 14, the exhibit "Sugar Beet Fields to Field of Dreams 1920s-1960s, Mexican/Spanish Contributions to America’s Favorite Pastime" will open in Nielsen Library. An opening reception and presentation by Gabe and Jody Lopez, exhibit curators, will begin at 6 p.m. The exhibit will remain on campus until October 15.
On Friday, September 16, the focus will be on health and wellness, including a lecture by Dr. Nicholas Natividad and physical activities sponsored by Adams State Empower U.
Hispanic Serving Institution Week is sponsored by the Office of Title V Initiatives.
For more information call 719-587-8385.
