Hispanic Serving Institution

Overview

Established in 1949, Elgin Community College welcomes students from all backgrounds and celebrates our community's rich Latinx heritage. We take pride in being a diverse institution in the Chicago suburbs. As a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Elgin Community College is committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and empowering environment for all community members. Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) are colleges and universities designated by the U.S. Department of Education. In addition to a 25% Hispanic/Latinx enrollment criterion, institutions must have a high proportion of students with financial need and demonstrate a commitment to supporting and advancing educational opportunities for their diverse population. As of Fall 2024, 52% of ECC’s student population identifies as Latinx.

HSI Strategic Planning Process

On August 15, 2024, ECC leadership committed to developing a strategic plan tailored to support Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) initiatives. The goals of this process are to: 

• Clearly articulate ECC’s identity, mission, and vision as an HSI.
• Identify key initiatives to support both short-term and long-term objectives.
• Foster an inclusive environment for Latinx students and the broader community.

This process includes the development of an HSI Strategic Planning Steering Team. This team includes representatives from students, staff, faculty, administrators, family, and community partners who will guide the process from October 2024 to June 2025.

Stages:

Listening (Nov 2024 - Feb 2025):

• Gather insights through surveys, feedback forms, and listening sessions involving students, employees, and community members.
• Key Focus: Understanding needs and challenges related to HSI servingness.

Visioning/Strategy Development (Jan 2025 - May 2025):

• Define long-term goals, values, and priorities.
• Develop strategic objectives aligned with the feedback gathered.
• *Strategic Plan assembled: Target Completion June 2025

Implementation (July 2025 - July 2027):

• Create action plans, allocate resources, and set timelines.
• Measure performance and adjust strategies for continuous improvement.

Timeline Highlights

Ways to Be Involved

ECC students, employees, and community members will have multiple opportunities to contribute to this process. Feedback will be collected via surveys, open comment forms, and structured listening sessions. Students and employees will receive regular updates through student and employee-specific channels. Community members will be informed through alternate methods, with opportunities for open comments and listening sessions posted directly on this site.