Emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (eHSI) Prominence: A Retention Model for Servingness of Latinx Students

As an emerging Hispanic-Serving Institution (eHSI), UC Davis is committed to serving Latinx students through the Chicanx Latinx Retention Initiative (CLRI) which provides a comprehensive strategic retention model centering Latinx student success. CLRI has a center, The Center for Chicanx and Latinx Academic Student Success (CCLASS) aka El Centro, where we practice a three-part retention model grounded in research and data, partnerships, and services. This model has improved our first-year retention rate from 88.7% to 91.4% and increased our 4-year graduation rate from 51% to 62% since the inception of El Centro in 2017. This approach to Latinx student retention and servingness calls for an assessment of institutional policies, practices, and structures to gain an understanding of the campus identity and utilize it to address the unique academic needs of its Latinx student population. This chapter provides a replicable foundation for other institutions seeking to implement retention practices for their Latinx students and foster institutional eHSI prominence. Additionally, it details how to leverage institutional support, utilize critical data-driven decision-making, and embrace a definition of servingness that centers real-time lived experiences and identities of Latinx students.