An Inextricable Link: The Essential Relationship Between the Establishment and Institutionalization of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Programs

As colleges and universities become more racially diverse, strategies for diversity initiatives have become more commonplace. Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI), including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), secure federal funding to support these efforts. AANAPISIs receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education to serve their Asian American and Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students. To ensure sustainability after funding ends, the U.S. Department of Education requires AANAPISIs to report their institutionalization efforts. This accountability measure, combined with the temporary nature of federal grants, necessitates that AANAPISIs focus on maintaining their programs beyond the funding period. This two-site case study of a community college on the west coast and a regional comprehensive university on the east coast examines how AANAPISIs begin to institutionalize their programs during their early design and establishment period. Understanding this process reveals how AANAPISIs and other MSIs can sustain their programs and transform institutions to better serve minoritized students. The findings offer implications for institutional practice, public policy, and future research.