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Defining Student Success at CSU HSIs

  • CSU HSI Action Research Network
  • Jun 23
  • 2 min read

Updated: Jun 26

The California State University Hispanic-serving Institution Action Research Network has been developing a definition of student success at the CSU HSI. See our working definition below:


Working Definition (as of 06/23/2025)

The California State University (CSU) system is the largest four-year public university system in the U.S., where 42% of undergraduates identify as Latine. As such, the CSU is uniquely positioned to lead a nationwide transformation in higher education. With 21 of its 23 campuses designated as Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), the CSU has the opportunity and responsibility to move beyond being Latine-enrolling toward being Latine-serving. Doing so requires a clear commitment to addressing the structural inequities that shape student experiences and outcomes. 

Traditionally, student success at HSIs has been measured through academic metrics such as graduation rates, GPA, and retention. While these remain important, research increasingly calls for broader, equity-centered definitions of success that center students’ lived experiences, cultural wealth, and capacity to create change. 

Our expanded definition of student success includes three interconnected components: (1) academic outcomes that reflect enrollment, progress, and completion; (2) liberatory outcomes that emphasize identity development, agency, and community engagement; and (3) the practices for equity institutions must adopt to serve students with care, cultural responsiveness, and equity. Together, these dimensions offer a more complete and equitable vision of what it means to serve students at an HSI.  


See the full definition here:


This definition is a starting point, and we recommend that institutions explicitly link these indicators of success to institutional mission and value statements regarding their HSI designation.  


Our Process

This working definition was developed by the CSU Hispanic-Serving Institution Action Research Network. This is a network of faculty, staff and student stakeholders from six CSU campuses designated as HSIs.  The Network uses a participatory action research approach to examine ongoing HSI work on each campus supporting Latine students, including specific policies and practices, to identify cross-campus best practices. Since 2023, the Network has used an iterative action-research cycle with the aim of transforming our member institutions and the CSU system from enrolling high numbers of Latine students to serving these students. The Network has received financial support from the College Futures Foundation and the Spencer Foundation.  

The process began by identifying those theoretical frameworks underlying servingness at our institutions. Using these definitions and examining existing definitions of student success, a first draft was developed. An iterative process of critical discussion, consulting relevant literature and revision from network members resulted in the current definition.  

As next steps we will further validate this definition with students, alumni, family members of students and community partners. We will update this working definition as these community members are consulted.  


The CSU HSI Action Research Network is not a program of the CSU system or individual campuses and does not represent the views of the system or the represented campuses. 


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Tell us what about this definition is useful as you engage in your work at an HSI? Email us - kevin.ferreira_van_leer@uconn.edu & amber.gonzalez@csus.edu.

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