Our work as an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation, is the direct result of USD’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, known as The Horizon Project, which was established in 2021 by USD President James T. Harris III as part of USD’s strategic plan, called Envisioning 2024.
The Horizon Project was created to expand and demonstrate inclusive excellence to benefit the learning and success of all students, advance educational equity, and identify USD as a first-choice institution for underrepresented students.
To achieve our HSI goals, our university assembled the USD Hispanic-Serving Institution Committee, comprised of students, faculty, administrators, and staff from different areas across campus. This committee established necessary subcommittees to help set and execute actionable goals to serve the university’s objective of not only becoming a Hispanic-Serving Institution, but also maintaining this important designation.
The university has achieved much to make our campus community a more diverse and inclusive place. However, we must continue to reflect and renew our commitment to foster an inclusive community and to actively advance access and inclusion. We must also expand access to a USD education for students who cannot take courses entirely on campus or within the confines of a fixed semester system through expanded on-line and hybrid learning.
The campus must be a place with people, practices and policies that create an environment where everyone feels welcome and knows, without a doubt, that our campus culture is built with them in mind.
25%
With more than 25% of our full-time undergraduate students identifying as Hispanic, USD will also be able to work toward being officially recognized at the federal level as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education.
This federal designation will enable USD to apply for vital federal grants, which will allow us to implement programming and support systems that ensure the educational success not only of our Hispanic students, but all students on campus.