CSN is First Hispanic Serving Institution in Nevada

By Yessica Casias

College of Southern Nevada has a multicultural and diverse student body. Recently CSN met the 25 percent threshold of Hispanic students that warranted a new designation for the College: Hispanic Serving Institution.

“CSN is the most diverse institution in the state with more Hispanic students, more low-income students and more first-generation students than any other institution,” wrote CSN’s President Michael Richards in a Feb. 2 email to the CSN community.

CSN submitted its application to the U.S. Department of Education in December to become the first federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution in Nevada, according to a Feb. 6 announcement from Richards. The application was accepted.

Now CSN can apply and compete for Title III and V funds from the U.S. Department of Education.

According to the U.S. Department of Education funds can be used for the following: scientific or laboratory equipment, construction or renovation of facilities, faculty development, purchase of educational materials, academic tutoring, counseling programs, distance-learning academic instruction, teacher education and student-support services, among other instructional or institutional needs.

Now that CSN has the HSI status, the first grant proposal is being crafted.

Maria Marinch, executive director of community relations, diversity and multicultural affairs at CSN, said we will compete with other colleges and universities for these funds. “The grant proposal hasn’t been finalized, but it is student success focused.”

CSN’s large diverse community is celebrated with this new distinction.

“This designation belongs to the community we serve,” said Richards, at a press conference at the Latin Chamber of Commerce according to the Feb. 6 announcement. “It is a symbol that states loud and clear that we are your community college.”

Johnny Meza, CSN student, said he feels very privileged to attend CSN as a Hispanic student. “I feel like diversity is good within the population because it is needed for us to grow as humans. We are a melting pot and we all need each other.”

Laura Cruz, CSN student, said, “I love that there’s so many people from different places and cultures here and they all have the same opportunity to achieve academic success.”