SLCC Welcomes Its First Hispanic Serving Initiatives Director

 

PRESS RELEASE

Salt Lake Community College recently named Tranquilino “Kino” Hurtado as its first Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives Director. As an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (eHSI), Hurtado will play an important role at SLCC, coordinating HSI efforts across the college involving academic and nonacademic programs to prepare for this federal designation.  

 

“Kino’s work experience and his PhD pursuit will help keep the college current in best practices for becoming an HSI and continuing to build equitable and inclusive practices in higher education for all,” said Juone Kadiri, PhD, vice president for Institutional Equity, Inclusion and Transformation at SLCC. “We’re really excited to have him on our team in this new role.” 

 

Before moving to Utah to pursue his PhD at the University of Utah, Hurtado had earned his master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling and was the Career Services Director for New Mexico Highlands University. His PhD is in Education Leadership and Policy with a research focus on organizational change and adapting to new racialized organization identity. 

 

“Leading a planned organizational identity change is hard, uncomfortable, and very daunting. Mix in the variable of race, and now you have an even more complicated task at hand,” explained Hurtado. “Now consider the Latinx population is headed to college at higher rates than ever, yet the equity gaps will continue to exist unless we adapt to the needs of this population. It is important for high school students to become college ready but it is equally as important for colleges to become student ready.”

 

Hurtado initially joined SLCC in March 2021 to help run its summer Bridge program. Under the leadership of Richard Diaz, he helped create a SLCC Bridge Program that provided a comprehensive orientation to historically underserved students to help ease the transition from high school to college. The program served approximately 400 students over the span of two summers. Students in the program developed a network of on-campus support and became empowered to advocate for their own academic success and future regarding career choices. 

 

In his new role, Hurtado understands the importance of educating the public on what an HSI designation means and is aware of the common misconception that it will focus efforts on one group of students at the expense of others. “The programs we create on behalf of Hispanic students extend to all students. These programs can serve as a working model, paving the path for similar programs for other minoritized students,” explained Hurtado. An HSI designation allows for federal funding for specified programs, which can end up benefiting a variety of students, not just Hispanics.

 

Hurtado also pointed out that students from all racial backgrounds benefit from a diverse environment. In his experience analyzing career services surveys, employers express a desire for students who have multicultural competence. These are students comfortable and adept interacting in environments where there is diversity. “By embracing diversity, we can help students unlearn harmful racist attitudes and beliefs they may hold” said Hurtado. 

 

The Hispanic population is the largest and fasted growing minority in Utah. SLCC’s student body reflects this growth; Since 2005, Hispanic and Latinx student enrollment has increased by over 126%. This Fall 2022 at SLCC, 21% of degree-seeking students identified as Hispanic/Latinx while 25% identified  as non-degree-seeking students. HSI designation is earned once one-fourth of full-time students identify as Hispanic/Latinx. “It is not a matter of if we become an HSI, rather it is a matter of when” said Hurtado.

 

Once SLCC becomes an HSI, Hurtado explains that it will be important to do something meaningful with the designation. “It is essential that we take a hard look at the data and leverage this designation to improve academic and non-academic outcomes for Hispanic/Latinx students. This means closing equity gaps for this population while still serving all other students at a high level,” said Hurtado. “The HSI designation is a promise to current and future students and it will attract students and help them find success here—we need to make sure that when they come here, the promise is real.”