A message from Santiago Canyon College Dr. Jeannie G. Kim:
Dear SCC Community,
I hope you all are experiencing a great Fall semester so far. This week, September 9-15, marks National Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Week 2024, a time to celebrate the contributions HSIs make to education, innovation and culture.
HSIs play a crucial role in providing opportunities for Latine students, helping them achieve their academic and professional dreams while fostering diversity and inclusion.
Santiago Canyon College is proud to be designated as an HSI. Niche.com’s 2025 rankings list SCC as the #1 HSI community college in Orange County, #7 in California and #8 in the nation. Counted among four-year universities, SCC is the 33rd-best HSI out of 377 institutions surveyed.
Our HSI designation enables us to apply for and receive federal grants, which fund valuable resources for our students—such as paid internships, peer mentorship programs, specialized academic counseling, and initiatives like the $3 million HSI STEM Grant we received in 2021 and the $1.7 million HSI Title V grant to establish the “Nuestro Lugar” Latine center at SCC .
However, being a designated HSI is more than meeting eligibility criteria. It means having an intentional focus and sustained effort to create a campus climate where students from underrepresented groups can thrive.
As a college, we are unwavering in our commitment to cultivating a sense of belonging—building an environment through teaching, learning, and services that respects and values multiple cultural and racial experiences and perspectives. At SCC, we want all students and employees to feel included and part of a supportive community.
We are also prepared to engage in the challenging conversations necessary to effect real change. Together, as a community, we will lean into these discussions, aligning them with our Comprehensive Educational Plan, to achieve the outcomes we have set for ourselves.
Let’s take this week to honor the dedication of educators, students, and leaders who work tirelessly to uplift and empower the Latine community.
Vamos Halcones!