UCLA Latinx Advisory Group Listening Exercise

Attendees at the chancellor’s Listening Exercise with the Latinx Advisory Group on April 11, 2025 expressed their enthusiasm for the university’s progress in becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI).

They highlighted the importance of initiatives like the HSI fellowship program, which aims to provide support and mentorship to Latinx students, faculty, and staff. Several speakers emphasized the need for increased funding to support these programs and foster cultural awareness within the university community. Attendees thanked Chancellor Frenk for his commitment to inclusive excellence.

Speakers shared personal stories and research experiences that shed light on the successes and challenges of Latinx individuals in academia and beyond. They also expressed a desire to see stronger relationships between alumni, students, and the university administration, particularly following last spring’s events.

Themes

• Latinx Student Support: Discussions highlighted the importance of providing comprehensive support services for Latinx students, including mentorship, counseling, and academic resources. 
• Latinx Representation: Discussion focused on the need for greater representation of Latinx individuals in faculty, staff, and leadership positions.
• Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Designation: The university’s ambition to become designated as an HSI was discussed, with a focus on the opportunities and challenges associated with this status.
• Inclusive Excellence: Some speakers focused on the need to foster a more inclusive and welcoming environment for Latinx students and faculty.
• Mentorship and Research Opportunities: The importance of mentorship and research opportunities for Latinx students and faculty was discussed.  
• Alumni Relations: A speaker discussed the importance of repairing and strengthening relationships between the university and its alumni. 
• Antisemitism: Concerns were expressed about antisemitism on campus and the need for proactive measures to address this issue.
• Undocumented Student Support: The experiences and needs of undocumented students were highlighted, emphasizing the importance of support services and advocacy.
• Bruin Community Engagement: The importance of engaging with the broader Latinx community within UCLA was emphasized, both for research and for providing support services.