LaGuardia Community,
This month we celebrate National Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Week and Hispanic Heritage Month.
HSI Week, observed September 11 – 17, commemorates the contributions of more than 500 Hispanic-Serving Institutions nationwide in their work to advance postsecondary student success for all students.
LaGuardia Community College is proud to enroll 48% Latinx students in undergraduate programs which is significantly more than the 25% required to become a Hispanic Serving Institution by the by the U.S. Department of Education.
HSIs serve as exemplars for actively enrolling, serving, and graduating diverse students. LaGuardia serves with intentionality to enhance the learning experience for Latinx and all students. One way of achieving this is through the creation of Casa de Las Americas, the first center at a CUNY community college offering comprehensive academic and career services to Latinx students from all countries of the Americas. Since it first opened its doors in 2022, Casa de las Americas has hosted conferences, workshops, film screenings and opportunities for students to network and be mentored.
LaGuardia engages its students, faculty and staff in a diverse environment embracing a wide range of cultures, ethnic backgrounds, and life experiences. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month (HHM), September 15 to October 15, LaGuardia is proud to recognize and celebrate the many contributions, diverse cultures, and extensive histories of the American Latino community.
In 1968, Congress set aside a week for this observance and two decades later expanded it to a month stretching from September 15 to October 15. The timing is historically significant as September 15 is the anniversary of independence in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The designated period also recognizes Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence on September 16 and September 18, respectively.
The LaGuardia community is invited to participate in a variety of HHM activities that include an Open House hosted by Casa de las Americas; film screenings and discussions hosted by Campus Life and CREAR Futuros.
I want to thank the organizers of these events for their hard work, and I hope you will consider participating in our celebration of National Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Week and Hispanic Heritage Month.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Adams
President