2023 Grant Program FAQ

What is DHSI?

DHSI stands for Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program and is supported under Title V, Part A, by the US Department of Education. The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program provides grants to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. These grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability.

The DHSI program awarded 110 new awards in FY 23, 46 applicants were funded down the FY 22 slate and 64 highest ranked applicants were awarded in the FY 23 competition.

Our project was among the 64 highest ranked projects selected for funding in the FY 23 competition. The minimum cutoff score for funding in the FY 23 competition was 106 (out of a maximum of 110 possible points).

To view the project abstracts of new awardees, click here:

https://www2.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/fy2023-dhsi-abstracts-new-competition.pdf

For more information about the DHSI Program please visit https://www2.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/index.html

What is Secure for Student Success (SfS2)?

SECURE for Student Success (SfS2), stands for “Strengthening Equitable Culturally Responsive Environments (SECURE) for Student Success”: Using a Servingness Model to support Hispanic and Underrepresented Students.

This five-year, $3 Million grant, is one of the 64 proposals selected for funding nationwide (https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/biden-harris-administration-awards-more-40-million-support-hispanic-serving-institutions), and builds on the high impact practices from our decades long AIMS2 program (https://www.ecs.csun.edu/aims2) that concluded in December 2022. Our partners in this exciting project include Los Angeles Pierce College and College of the Canyons which have a long history of collaboration with us from the AIMS2 program.

Creating a sense of “belonging” and community is critical to student success. This grant will strengthen and scale peer and industry mentoring, create and offer summer bridge workshops, wrap-around student services to support students in hybrid/virtual learning environments, webinars on mental health and emotional well-being, and increase student participation in undergraduate research and community engagement. A faculty community of practice will lead curricular change to emphasize culturally responsive pedagogies to reduce equity gaps, close articulation gaps, and develop and offer hybrid/online courses that improve access for working students for sustainable long-term success emphasizing the “servingness” model.

Looking to the future, employment opportunities are especially high in areas such as Digital Technology, AI, Health Sciences, Cybersecurity, Biotechnology, Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Technology, and Sustainability. Closely aligned with CSUN’s Road Ahead long-term strategic plan, SECURE for Student Success (SfS2) includes a strong multi-disciplinary team from Art, Health, Sciences, Engineering, and Computer Science and is projected to positively impact the lives and careers of over 6,000 students.

What are the goals and objectives of SfS2?

  1. Increase enrollment, improve academic performance (retention and graduation rates), and reduce equity gaps.
  2. Expand and enhance curriculum, research fellowships, and culturally-responsive, work-based learning experiences in in-demand industry sectors.
  3. Support and increase faculty capacity to plan and implement culturally responsive pedagogies, proactive advisement, and mentoring.
  4. Develop a “Servingness” model and culturally enhance academic experiences to support mental health, emotional well-being, and academic outcomes.