As part of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 26th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education, members of MSU Denver along with the President of Adams State University, met with 8 members of Colorado’s delegation – Representatives DeGette, Crow, Lamborn, Perlmutter, Buck, Neguse, Boebert, and Senator Bennet.
HACU provided members with the following four asks which allowed members of MSU Denver the opportunity to highlight MSU Denver and the types of programs we offer our students (see programs below).
- Equitable Funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions
- Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment (HERE) Act
- Capital Financing Bill
- Immigration Reform
Look at our programs in action with the story of Estéfani Peña Figueroa at the bottom.
At MSU Denver, 59.7% of undergraduates are the first in their families to pursue a 4-year college education. First-Generation Initiatives exists to encourage and empower the Roadrunner community to embrace and celebrate these students.
As part of MSU Denver’s Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub), First-Generation Initiatives exists help first-generation students build a strong sense of community, navigate campus resources, and access the tools that will help them find success throughout their journey as students at MSU Denver, and as future professionals in the careers they are interested in pursuing.
To learn more click on the link and see our equity-centered work, and how we’re leading in our state and across the nation.
Estéfani Peña Figueroa Health Care Management
Peña Figueroa, a student with DACA protection, graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver this month with a degree in healthcare management. Her younger sister is graduating from Denver’s DSST: College View High School.
But because the coronavirus pandemic upended academic life and put a halt to large gatherings, there has been no pomp, no circumstance, and no graduation stage to complete the Figueroa’s’ educational odyssey.
Many Colorado academic institutions canceled or postponed their graduation ceremonies to reduce the spread of the highly contagious new coronavirus. For first-generation college students such as Peña Figueroa — the first person in her family to earn a college degree — the dissolution of a graduation ceremony felt especially stinging. “I really wanted to go to school since I was little, but the education in Guatemala was so expensive and not the best opportunity,” Peña Figueroa said, her voice cracking. “Although my mother didn’t really know how to read back then, she would always try to read to me and always tell me — sorry I get so emotional — she would always tell me about the importance of going to school and going to college. My parents decided to give my little sister and me a better future.”
By Elizabeth Hernandez, The Denver Post
Read the rest of the article here.
The Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy (GITA) creates space for oppressed groups to build community, organize for liberation, and engage in self-care. Additionally, GITA reaches students by teaching critical analysis, communication, and organizing skills so that students feel empowered to work against the systems of oppression in their lives and communities. GITA’s values include intersectional feminism, activism, access, community, and learning.
GITA is comprised of two major arms—the Gender and Women Studies department and GITA student support services.
The Gender and Women Studies dept offers one major in GWS studies, two minors in Gender and Sexuality Studies, and 1-2 credit fast-paced courses on career and personal development. GITA program administrators actively assist students, faculty, and staff who are facing harassment and/or discrimination on campus.
GITA support services offer a range of support including a one-snack stop for students experiencing food instability, as well as dedicated lactation stations, wellness/quiet rooms. GITA offers scholarship services to educate students on this process, 2 grants for students who are above 60 credits hours or who would like to attend a conference.
Year-round events and programs that are student-centered and student-led. Training and education are available on topics including systemic oppression, LGBTQ inclusion, conflict resolution, anti-racism, etc.
A community space for students to gather and relax, study, do homework and build community. This space also serves as a meeting space for student organizations and groups coordinating programming that promotes diversity across campus. Emphasis is placed on issues and concerns of underrepresented populations.
Co-author of the BIPOC Safer Spaces Resolution (bodv.mojie56.com/gita/safer-spaces-resolution/), GITA Hold of Yourself official podcast (student-curated and led) (http://gitapodcast.libsyn.com), and DEI advocacy and service at MSU Denver.
Contact Us
Eneri “Netty” Rodriguez Arauz
Associate Director
303-615-2036
To learn more about our phenomenal work!
Listen to a discussion by the GITA Hold of Yourself official podcast below about Safer Spaces Resolution.
Safer Spaces Resolution GITA Hold of Yourself
In June 2020, MSU Denver received approximately $2,765,922 from the HSI/MSI CARES Act as a Covid-19 grant. These funds have been used to support:
• Students with online tutoring
• Faculty with on online teaching tools through the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE)
• Faculty and Students with learning and teaching assistants to help with classroom and administrative support
• Transfer peer mentors program that help first-year transfer students navigate the transfer process
• Book/supply vouchers to students participating in the Admissions and Center of Equity and Student Achievement’s new mentoring program to help Colorado students transition successfully from high school to college
• Students/faculty/staff with the opportunity to rent a laptop
Contact us and learn more about what we can do for you!
Michael Benitez, Ph.D.
VP for Diversity and Inclusion
303-605-7221
Higher Education Emergency Relief Funds (HEERF)
Look at our POHA Scholars of 2020 – 2021 at the bottom!
The Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (POHA) Program at MSU Denver focuses on encouraging students from diverse backgrounds and those with an interest in serving diverse populations to pursue post-baccalaureate study in nutrition at MSU Denver. While dietitians and nutrition professionals around the country serve a very diverse population, approximately 91% of Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are white females.
The POHA-Denver program aims to diversify the field of nutrition and dietetics by:
• Conducting outreach to students in high schools, community colleges, and in baccalaureate programs
• Providing financial support to help students navigate barriers to participating in post-baccalaureate degree programs
• Hiring diverse support staff to fuel the grant efforts and to provide advising for current and prospective students
• Offering financial-literacy training focusing on loan payback and budgeting
• Development of regular seminars and an annual conference focused on diversity in dietetics and health care
The grant also aims to promote cultural intelligence among faculty, students, staff, and practitioners in the field.
Over the 2020-2021 Academic Year, the POHA Program awarded $60,000 in scholarships and research stipends to diverse nutrition students in our POHA Scholars Program.
The program also offered quarterly financial literacy trainings to scholars.
The program provided monthly cultural intelligence trainings to faculty, staff and students. As a result, the MS in HND has increased the diversity of its student body, with the percentage of students of color increasing from 4% in 2019-2020 to 13% in 2020-2021.
Contact us and learn about our story and to add a little spice, and some of our personality!
Jessica Toro
POHA Program Manager
303-615-0990
Pathways to Possible is a grant-funded program designed to serve students of color, low-income students, and students from rural communities. The program seeks to support students as they transition into the university with summer bridge coursework and individualized advising support throughout their college experience. The program will also provide participants with financial support in the form of stipends and laptops to reduce the financial stress of attending the university.
Serving a cohort of 285 students, all of whom are provided with $1,000 stipend and a laptop.
On-going support after first year until graduation.
Built-in milestones for students to feel prepared and connected to career opportunities prior to graduation.
Paid internships and connections to on-campus employment after first year.
Contact Us
Eric Silva
Program Director
303-605-5620
The Immigrant Services Program serves MSU Denver’s undocumented, immigrant, and refugee/asylee students and any student who speak a language other than English at home. The program staff and peer mentors – all of whom are first-generation immigrations to the U.S. – provide personalized academic guidance, writing and language support, and access to crucial resources such as legal services or connections to community resources. We often begin to connect with community members and high school students well before they start at MSU, and through our connections to community programs and the K-12 system, we hope to improve educational access to Denver’s and Colorado’s immigrant community and to change perceptions about who belongs on college campuses. The broad scope and highly inclusive nature of the program – as we serve all students with immigrant background with a large range of support structures and resources – makes us a very unique program that can’t readily be found on other U.S. college campuses.
Working with donors and immigration lawyers to provide grants and legal support for almost 100 DACA renewals; bi-weekly, on-campus, and free legal info sessions for students and family members since 2017.
Robust peer mentoring program.
HS visits and presentations by undocumented program participants to change perceptions of who belongs on college campuses (13 visits in 2020-2021).
Events to highlight the experiences of Refugee and Asylee college students.
Extensive website and recorded workshops on topics relevant to the immigrant and undocumented community, such as Town Halls on immigration law updates, entrepreneurship and professional options for student without work authorization, grad school for Dreamer scholars, and many more.
Contact Us
Gregor Mieder
Director
303-605-5390
Office Contact
Manuel Del Real, Ph.D.
Executive Director of HSI Initiatives and Inclusion
Office StaffCampus Location:
Jordan Student Success Building (JSSB) 440
890 Auraria Parkway
Denver, CO 80204
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 173362
Campus Box 1
Denver, CO 80217-3362