OPSU Awarded $2.8 Million for Title V Grant, Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions

Oklahoma Panhandle State University is proud to announce the University has received a $2.8 million grant from the United States Department of Education through the Title V, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program. This grant is designed to develop and expand curriculum proven to increase retention, as well as add academic programs to meet regional economic demands. This is the first and only Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions grant in Oklahoma.

The program also will allow the University to expand and enhance support services for Hispanic students by adding online services in Spanish and expanding support at the Hispanic Student Support Center to better meet needs. The grant program will also encourage more Hispanic students to live on campus to increase their connection with the campus and its services.

University President, Dr. Tim Faltyn stated, “This grant is a game changer for our university. We are proud of our Hispanic students, they are leaders on our campus and are a big part of what makes OPSU the best in our region. I am excited to have needed resources to better serve our students.”

Vice President of Operations Dr. Ryan Blanton, Provost Dr. Julie Dinger, and Hispanic Student Services Director Teri Mora are the ones that developed a plan to best utilize this opportunity.

Dinger commented, “Our Hispanic students are a major reason OPSU is a special place. With this opportunity, we will further our plans for the Hispanic Student Support Center and provide resources to serve our students.”

Teri Mora, Director of Hispanic Student Services stated, “At Panhandle State we have long been committed to serving our Hispanic community and for the past fifteen years it has been my personal mission for OPSU to be recognized as a Hispanic Serving Institution. I am proud of what we have accomplished and I look forward to seeing how the additional resources of this grant will be used to continue to transform the lives of our Hispanic community.”

OPSU is the first and only Hispanic Serving Institution in Oklahoma, serving a Student population that is 29% Hispanic. Oklahoma Panhandle State University will use this award to continue growing program to ensure students have all the tools needed to succeed.

Dean of the Academic Resource Center, Sarah Green, stated, “This grant provides resources for the University to improve on our strengths and better serve our students. It will be exciting to see our results of this program over the next five years.”