Representation in higher education: a closer look into Cal Poly Humboldt’s HSI designation through the Courageous Cuentos retrospective

Author

Audriana PeñalozaFollow

Graduation Date

Summer 2025

Document Type

Project

Program

Master of Arts degree with a major in English, emphasis in Applied English Studies

Committee Chair Name

Dr. Janelle Adsit

Committee Chair Affiliation

Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff

Second Committee Member Name

Dr. Andrea Delgado

Second Committee Member Affiliation

Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff

Third Committee Member Name

Dr. Nancy Perez

Third Committee Member Affiliation

Community Member or Outside Professional

Fourth Committee Member Name

Jody Martinez

Fourth Committee Member Affiliation

Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff

Keywords

Humboldt County, California Polytechnic Humboldt, Cal Poly Humboldt, CouRaGeouS Cuentos, Listening to the Rain, Mural walk, Resistance, Hispanic Serving Institutions, HSI, Promotorx Transformative Educator Program, DHSI, Gallery, Counternarratives, Affirming, Spiritual protectors

Subject Categories

English

Abstract

When it comes to representation in education, it can be inconsistent. For many students of color, it can either feel like their identity is included in the conversations in the classroom and on campus, or it can feel like an afterthought — especially in higher education. Many colleges in the country are classified as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), Cal Poly Humboldt being one of them. This designation claims that Humboldt has the resources and support systems for all students of color, especially for the Hispanic/Latine population on campus. However, it looks like it is the student population that rise up during their busy schedules to serve one another. One example of this is the publication, CouRaGeouS Cuentos. This is a student led publication that has garnered the support from not only the community on campus, but also farther, reaching towards the surrounding areas of Humboldt. With this support, it has allowed Cuentos to produce 8 volumes, and a gallery that was located in the heart of the Cal Poly Humboldt Campus.

According to Dr. Gina Ann Garcia, when a school becomes an HSI, it can be powerful, but only when done right. Through the CouRaGeouS Cuentos Project: Listening to the Rain Retrospective and the 8th volume of the journal, my paper explores the politics behind organizing events for students and communities of color and examines the impacts these initiatives have on the campus environment. Overall, this project highlights the student-led efforts on campus while revealing gaps in the promises that the institution has made for the marginalized population on campus.

Citation Style

MLA

Recommended Citation

Peñaloza, Audriana, "Representation in higher education: a closer look into Cal Poly Humboldt’s HSI designation through the Courageous Cuentos retrospective" (2025). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2323.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2323