In early 2023, the University of St. Francis earned the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation by the U.S. Department of Education for having an undergraduate full-time equivalent student population that is comprised of at least 25 percent Hispanic students. The project will serve USF’s more than 1,200 undergraduate students, 30% of whom are Hispanic, 40% of whom are Pell-eligible, and 64% of whom are first-generation college students.
With the designation, USF was able to apply for and has since been awarded Title V Developing HSIs (DHSI) funding in the form of a grant worth close to $3M over five years. Ninety percent of DHSI program costs are being financed with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education, while 10% of DHSI program are financed by USF.
The grant will largely fund a DHSI project titled “Going from Si se Puede to Si se Pudo,” (translated to English as “Going from ‘We Can Do It’ to ‘We Did Do It’”), designed to support capacity enhancements and innovative strategies to significantly increase retention and graduation rates for all students, and especially those who are Hispanic, from low-income households, or otherwise underserved. The overarching DHSI goal of the project is to transform how the institution engages with current and future students to improve retention over the five-year project period.
“Commute to a Journey”
Mixed Media on Stretched Canvas
University of St. Francis in Collaboration with
Víctor M. Montañez, Artist Educator
2024
“Commute to a Journey” consists of complementary murals designed onsite specifically for the University of St. Francis’ commuter lounge to give voice to their unique experience.
Digital photography and Know Art, a painting technique I pioneered, were the main components used. Know Art paintings complement the Universal Design for Learning Pedagogy and the Universal Design for architecture.
The large eight-piece mural can be viewed as a single piece or eight independent pieces thatcarry the spirit of the totality. Alternatively, the panels can be clustered in four pairs or two quads, inviting the curator, spectator, and space to share in thoughtful consideration of the artistic intent.
The smaller 3’ x 12’ mural is a mixed media and multi technique contemporary art piece. It can be arranged in a variety of ways as a tribute to the various routes that guide the University of St. Francis’ commuter students.
The three “commute mural” panels laid down for the background emerged from an abstract art workshop involving the faculty, leadership, university president, key staff, and student government. Members of the student leadership Mural Collective later added to the background, unifying the three pieces with geometric designs based on the perfect forms–the square, triangle, and circle–symbols for the pursuit of universal truths.
The larger eight panel mural was inspired by a leadership collaboration who later became protagonists in the mural’s narrative itself. While painting and designing, we spoke about our contributions, leadership, legacy, culture, unquenchable thirst for knowledge, duties, and hopes and dreams for our families and the world. The mural panels are the “meeting notes.” They are a “photo album“ of our journey together in those painting sessions.
They are a tribute to the St. Francis’ learning community, which is on a journey in pursuit of goals set long before any of us came to this world. If we prepare properly and work diligently, we can ensure that the principles, our ancient wealth, and the fruits of our labor will persistlong after we are gone.
In sum, these panels metaphorically represent all of us and everything that makes us who we are as a whole and as part of the totality. When united, the collective amplifies our individual voice; individually, we forever amplify the collective’s voice in return.
USF employees have been invited to start a free Duolingo account learn Spanish, expand their knowledge of Hispanic and Latine culture and improve their cultural competency. Through this offering, they can learn at their own pace and get regular practice with other conversation partners in the program.
Starting Summer 2024, USF will offer just-in-time math instruction to students not meeting university math requirements, along with a fall co-requisite alongside Math 105. Students who successfully complete this corequisite version of Math 105 with a grade of “C” or higher will receive a partial tuition waiver at the end of the semester.
Under the DHSI grant, USF will employ up to 20 students in on-campus positions, increasing retention, engagement, and sense of belonging.
USF will revise its Foundations I first-year seminar to better focus on the transition to college and provide stronger support for first year retention. To that end, USF will hold an annual F1 Summer Institute training each May for Foundations 1 instructors.
Under the DHSI grant, USF will revise six courses existing courses and propose approval for four new courses annually to better integrate multicultural perspectives.
USF has contracted with document translators to make all admissions, enrollment, and financial aid documents for students and families available in Spanish. Initial translation during Year 1 contains an estimated 300 pages, with 40 follow-up pages translated each year for Years 2-5.
USF has established a mentoring program to match underserved first-year students with upper-class students to increase students’ sense of belonging and provide personalized support and leadership.
