UC Berkeley celebrates 2024 AANAPISI Week

AANAPISI Week highlights the importance of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs), a designation created by Congress on September 27, 2007, to expand educational opportunities for low-income, first-generation Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students.

In Spring 2024, UC Berkeley marked its second year as a federally designated AANAPISI under the Higher Education Act. This Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) status makes UC Berkeley eligible for competitive grant funding to better serve historically underrepresented student populations and expand innovative research endeavors.

In September 2023, the campus secured its first AANAPISI grant, a close collaboration between Asian Pacific American Student Development (APASD),the Asian American and Asian Diaspora (AADS) Studies Program, and the Asian American Research Center (AARC). The grant focuses on increasing student access and retention, particularly for Pacific Islander (PI) and Southeast Asian (SEA) students. Its goals include expanding academic and research opportunities in Critical Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian American Studies. "The grant’s purpose is to create and strengthen campus infrastructure with the intention to improve Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian students’ social, emotional, and academic experience and journey during their time at UC Berkeley" said Melisa Bautista, Director of APASD and AANAPISI Grant Project Director. 

As we celebrate AANAPISI Week, UC Berkeley reaffirms its commitment to supporting AANHPI students’ success and sense of belonging through the continued expansion and strengthening of an ecosystem of academic and cocurricular student, staff, and faculty resources and partnerships through the Asian American & Pacific Islander Thriving Initiatives. 

AANAPISI Grant Status Updates

This Fall, UC Berkeley is launching its inaugural Visiting Artist and Scholar Residency Program in October featuring Southeast Artist-in-Residence, Nyingv Jae Saecho, and Pacific Islander Scholar-in Residence, Professor Ponipate Rokolekutu. Additionally, we are launching the Critical Pacific Islander Studies (CPIS) and Critical Southeast Asian American (CSEAA) Studies Research Fellowship. Lastly, we will be hiring an AANAPISI Program Coordinator soon who will support the expansion and implementation of grant projects.

AANAPISI Grant Project Highlights

Below are some examples of how the AANAPISI grant has helped to connect and develop the AANHPI student experience and community: 

• 4th Annual OMAOCh Conference: Organized by students of the Pacific Islander Initiative, this event brought together 80 high school and community college students to explore climate justice and art for community healing.

• Southeast Asian Students for Organizing Conference (SEASON): Over 60 students from nine campuses joined UC Berkeley students to discuss intergenerational healing, career readiness, and community building.

• 2nd SEA Student Organizing Retreat (SEASOR): Hosted by the students part of the Asian American Political Activation Program (AAPA).This retreat focused on leadership development and political consciousness for Southeast Asian student organizers.

• Southeast Asian Student Orientation (SEASO): In collaboration with the Southeast Asian Student Coalition and AAPA, UC Berkeley held its third annual orientation to connect new SEA students with resources and alumni.

Events at UC Berkeley

• September 24, 2024 at noon: RSVP for the AA & PI Staff at Berkeley: Trends and Insights

• October 2, 2024 at 2pm: RSVP for a Fireside Chat with AVC of Health and Wellbeing Cory Vu

• October 9, 2024 at 5:30 PM, Multicultural Community Center: Critical Southeast Asian American Studies Scholar and Artist Residency Program: Public Event with Nyingv Jae Saecho (RSVP information coming soon) 

• October 18, 2024 at 10am: Homecoming Alumni & Parents Weekend: Building AA & PI Futures at Berkeley

• October 23, 2024 at 5:30pm, Multicultural Community Center: Critical Pacific Islander Studies Scholar and Artist Residency Program: Public Event with Professor Ponipate Rokolekutu (RSVP information coming soon) 

We invite our campus community and partners to learn more about AANAPISIs and to spread the word about AANAPISI Week. Together, we can continue to support and celebrate the success of AANHPI students at UC Berkeley and beyond. "With this designation, UC Berkeley is better equipped to address the diverse and complex needs of our AA & PI communities and to create a more equitable and thriving campus for all," said Elisa Diana Huerta, Associate Vice Chancellor, Community Engagement & Transformative Care. 

Visit aanapisi.berkeley.edu for continued updates.