UCI hosts inaugural UC AANAPISI forum

UCI hosted an inaugural UC Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution meeting Oct. 27-28 to provide a forum for UC students, staff and faculty to discuss best practices for AANAPISI and Minority Serving Institutions.

The meeting served as a launching point for a systemwide learning community to help campuses develop and implement their AANAPISI strategic planning and related research. Participants explored UC’s unique position as both a research institution and an AANAPISI, and discussed its potential for advancing equity and justice in higher education.

“Becoming an AANAPISI is an opportunity for campuses to challenge the model minority myth and to identify what thriving means for all Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students,” said Joseph Morales, associate director of strategic initiatives and partnerships in the Office of Inclusive Excellence, and host for the forum.

UCI has been AANAPISI since 2016 with some 37% of undergraduate students identifying as Asian/Asian American or Pacific Islander. AANAPISI designation allows UCI to apply for competitive grants that advance student success, with grant opportunities available in the US Department of Education and National Science Foundation, among other federal agencies.

In 2017, UCI became a Hispanic Serving Institution, celebrating five years this year. Having both HSI and AANAPISI makes UCI a dual designation MSI.  Including UCI, five UC schools are currently dual designation MSIs.

Representatives from all nine undergraduate UC campuses were in attendance.  Seven UC schools have established eligibility as an AANAPISI.