Hispanic Excellence and Advancement
Enrolling, Access. Serving, Student Success Outcomes.
Hispanic Serving Institution (HSIs) are defined in Title V of the Higher Education Act as not-for-profit institutions of higher learning with a full-time equivalent (FTE) undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25% Hispanic (HACU, 2025).
7,375
Total Students
53%
Students Receiving Financial Aid
39%
First Generation Students
Across Washington state, there are eight colleges and universities designated as HSIs. Skagit Valley College (SVC) is the first and only HSI in Western Washington state. SVC, a nearly 100-year-old institution was identified as an emerging HSI for more than ten years prior to being federally designated in 2024. Rather than taking a reactive approach to the designation, SVC integrated an institutional goal to becoming an HSI in its operational and strategic plan in 2012.
For more than 10 years, there has been a strong focus to intentionally serve Latine students in our county. By using local and state level data, strategies to becoming an HSI and professional development for employees were developed. Today, SVC is the only community college on the west side of Washington state and is amongst those leading institutional servingness for Latine students.
Message from college president
In fall quarter 2012, Skagit Valley College (SVC) announced “Becoming a Hispanic Serving
Institution (HSI)” as an institutional priority, followed by multiple plans of engagement
and strategies. In winter quarter 2024, SVC marked a major milestone as Hispanic student
enrollment exceeded 25% for the first time. As a result, SVC joined a growing community
of colleges and universities recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic
Serving Institution (HSI).
At SVC, we are committed to providing access, supporting student success and focusing on strategies that welcome both students and the community to our campuses. In 2012, Hispanic students consisted of 12% of our full-time degree seeking students. Now, the percentage has grown to 25.3%. SVC is now eligible to apply for HSI funding to expand educational opportunities and enhance services to support student success.
We remain committed to a culture of servingness and to advancing SVC Strategic Priorities: Enrollment, Student Success, Equity, Institutional Capacity, and Community Engagement. I am proud to be part of the Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS) network through Excelencia in Education, and I’m honored to support the success and well-being of Latino and all students at our college. We take great pride in being a Hispanic Serving Institution, and we will continue to strive for excellence centered on students and our community.
We are grateful to everyone, past and present, who contributed to this magnificent achievement. Thank you!
Dr. Christopher Villa
SVC President
Our Initiatives
At SVC, our commitment to serving our Hispanic and Latinx students extends beyond enrollment — we create opportunities for success at every step. Our cohort programs are designed to foster belonging, provide tailored support, and ensure all students have the tools they need to achieve their goals.
Champions of Diversity
Recognizing outstanding multicultural high school leaders across Skagit, Island, and San Juan counties. Students are celebrated for their achievements, with select seniors receiving scholarships from local businesses and colleges.
Maestros Para el Pueblo
Supporting Latinx students on their path to becoming teachers. Through partnerships with local high schools and Western Washington University, Maestros provides guidance, support, and pathways to careers in education.
College Assistance Migrant Program
Helping first-generation students from migrant and seasonal farmworker families succeed. CAMP offers academic, financial, and personal support to ensure students thrive in their first year and beyond.
SVC's Annual El Grito
Join us for this vibrant celebration of Mexican Independence Day! Enjoy food, music, and cultural performances. Connect with resources, including the Seattle Mexican Consulate.
Cardinal Achievement Program
CAP supports first-generation and income-qualified students through personalized coaching, proactive advising, and connections to campus resources to help students achieve their goals.
Escuela Para Padres
A free, Spanish-language program for parents and caregivers, offering tools and strategies to support children’s education, family advocacy, leadership skills, and personal growth through an eight-week course.
Upcoming Events
May 14, 2025
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
First Emerging HSI Consortium
Co-developed by Highline College
Where: Skagit Valley College, McIntyre Hall Performance Arts and Conference Center
Skagit Valley College and Highline College are hosting the first HSI Consortium for designated emerging HSI institutions in Washington state. As of 2023, Washington state has 18 emerging HSI’s community colleges and universities. Currently 8 are only designated HSI’s across the state, seven of those in eastern Washington and one, Skagit Valley College in Western Washington.
Goals:
- Create a network of emerging and designated HSI’s
- Share best practices from colleges and universities nationwide
- Engage by using servingness frameworks and strategies to increase student success outcomes at your institution
- Understand the Latine student landscape, including enrollment trends and growth in Washington State
Engagement nationwide
Excelencia in Education- Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS) is a diverse group of college and university presidents and chancellors who have committed to making their institutions learning environments where Latino students thrive. They are part of the Excelencia network and collaborate with Excelencia in Education to leverage collective expertise and resources, foster partnerships, and amplify current efforts at the national level.
AHSIE- The Alliance of Hispanic Serving Institution Educators (AHSIE) exists to support the work of the nation’s Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) as they seek to provide quality, relevant educational opportunities to large and growing numbers of underserved populations, particularly Hispanic students. All of AHSIE's activities directly benefit practitioners and educators at HSIs through measures that involve cooperation, networking, partnerships, information-sharing, technical assistance, and collaboration.
Members of AHSIE's share professional development opportunities, find technical assistance for the implementation of Title V funding and other capacity-building projects and use an annual national conference as a forum to disseminate “best practices” for improving educational outcomes for students.
In addition, AHSIE's also fosters cooperation and collaboration among member institutions in order to produce more competitive grant applications to federal agencies that provide funding for higher education. The Alliance will also act as a liaison between federal agencies and its member institutions.
HACU The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) was established in 1986 with a founding membership of eighteen institutions. Because of HACU’s exemplary leadership on behalf of the nation’s youngest and fastest-growing population, HACU rapidly grew in numbers and national impact.
Today, HACU represents more than 500 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain, and U.S. school districts. Although our member institutions in the U.S. represent only 17 percent of all higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to two-thirds of all Hispanic college students. HACU is the only national educational association that represents HSIs.
OUR TIMELIME
1995
The first Multicultural Advisor position was created to focus on recruiting and retaining students of color.
The first Latina College President was hired.
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1996
The Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC) was created with individuals from the community.
SVC hosts its first Dia de los Muertos community celebration.
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1998
Calling All Colors was created as an affinity space for all students of color.
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2000
Champions of Diversity was created to support low-income, first-generation high school students attending SVC.
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2012
President Dr. Thomas Keegan announced the institutional goal to become a Hispanic Serving Institution during his 2012 Fall in Service address.
SVC proposed an institutional strategic priority of “Latino Community Engagement.”
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2013
A substantial number of bilingual/bicultural staff were hired to support recruiting and advising.
A part-time position is developed and hired to oversee Latino community engagement strategic priority.
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2014
Maestros Para el Pueblo was developed to support Latino students pursuing an education degree to become teachers.
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2015
SVC Moving Toward Becoming an HSI Plan and Latino Engagement Plan developed.
First time in HACU Emerging HSI list.
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2016
All signage was translated to Spanish across campuses and website.
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2018
SVC’s Diversity Center was established.
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2022
SVC hosts its first El Grito community celebration.
Latino College President Dr. Christopher Villa is hired
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2024
SVC reached 25.3% Hispanic/Latinx identifying students.
HSI Taskforce forms to create an overview of strategies and review Latinx data.
SVC president joins Presients for Latino Student Success- Excelencia in Education.
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2025
SVC becomes a Hispanic Serving Institution.
HSI Fellows Learning Community developed.