In 2020, NJIT created the Hispanic and Latinx Leadership Council, which is made up of students, faculty, staff and alumni as well as business and community leaders who work collaboratively to address recruitment, retention, engagement and persistence among Latinx students. The Council worked with the university to ensure it received federal Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) designation, which requires that at least 25% or higher of the undergraduate full-time enrollment be Hispanic or Latinx. The goal was to achieve these numbers by 2025, but NJIT hit its target by the spring of 2024.
The Council raises funds and provides scholarships to Latinx students, and, on September 19, as part of NJIT’s kickoff for Hispanic Heritage Month, the Council, along with NJIT president Dr. Teik C. Lim, hosted a campus celebration of the school’s HSI designation. It was also a time to strategize on ways to retain Latinx students, which includes building additional initiatives to support student success.
“Diversity is among NJIT’s greatest strengths because it is a catalyst for learning and innovation,” says Lim. “Bringing together people with varied backgrounds, from different cultures, with unique life experiences and with a broad range of talents and insights informs thinking while spurring creativity and enhancing problem solving. We consciously strive to create an environment where all members of our community feel welcomed and respected.”
Since 2022, Dr. David E. Jones, NJIT chief diversity officer, has led the school’s Office of Inclusive Excellence. In this role, he advocates for the necessary resources both in institutional funding and staffing so that services, resources and support can be provided for Latinx students and student organizations.
“My approach to this work has been very intentional, very interpersonal, very collaborative, very much wanting to understand the stories and narratives of our Latinx students, ensuring that their voices are included in the programs, policies and procedures that we implement, and they feel that sense of affirmation and belonging here at NJIT,” says Jones.
Jones proudly notes that NJIT is the only polytechnic institution in New Jersey to have both Research 1 and HSI status. In addition to undergraduate degrees, NJIT offers master’s and doctoral programs.
“One of the things I’ve done is building out an institutional agenda for our heritage month celebrations,” Jones says. “These are opportunities to celebrate the rich history, culture and the people from underrepresented communities.”
