Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution

On September 27, 2007, the AANAPISI program was established by Congress with the purpose of improving the availability and quality of postsecondary education programs to support AANHPI students. Montgomery College is a designated AANAPI-serving institution.
The AANAPISI Planning Group's goal is to bring awareness of our Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander employees and students at Montgomery College. We provide resources to help our AANAPISI employees and students thrive, be successful, and reach their professional and personal goals at the College and surrounding community.
Wednesday, November 15, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Montgomery College is hosting its first ever LatinAsian fusion celebration. As you may know, the College received federal designations as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). To celebrate unity and create a greater sense of belonging for all communities, we are hosting this event on Tuesday, November 14, 5:00 -7:30 p.m., symbolically at the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Student Services Center Atrium (SV Building) on the Rockville campus.
There will be plenty of food, music, activities, and entertainment that is reflective of the Hispanic and Asian cultures. There will also be an opportunity to hear a panel discussion from successful local entrepreneurs. This family-friendly event is open to the broader community, so please spread the word.
This week celebrates Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI), which were established by Congress on September 27, 2007, to improve the availability and quality of postsecondary education programs to support low-income, first generation Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANAPI) students.
AANAPISI Week commemorates the significance and achievements of AANAPISIs and provides the opportunity for organizations and institutions to celebrate the educational support of underserved AANAPI students.

View Maulika Masson's postcard (PDF, ) .

View Dyllon Tran's postcard (PDF, ) .

View Dr. Hoa Nguyen's postcard (PDF, ) .
- The transfer and 4-year graduation rate for AANAPI student populations stands at approximately
63%.
- Data collected by the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness (OIRE) show
many Asian/Pacific Islanders are not receiving scholarships when compared to White,
Black, and Hispanic student populations. This is about 9.5% as compared to 20% (Black),
16.4% (Hispanic), and 40.7% (White) students.
- Currently, the College has 409 employees who identify as Asian/Native Hawaiian & Other
Pacific Islander (Not Hispanic or Latino), which is about 14 percent of the total
employee populations.
- As of Fall 2022, Asian/Pacific Islander student populations consist of over 12% at MC.
- Employees have the opportunity to become part of the AANAPISI Planning Group, where
we collaborate to secure approval for the establishment of an official AANAPISI Taskforce
at Montgomery College.
- Students can join the AANAPI Student Club.
- Both employees and students are welcome to participate in the annual AANAPI Heritage
Month Kick-Off Event held in April. You can contribute by hosting a table presentation,
performing, volunteering for the event, or even becoming a member of the planning
committee.
- Share your experiences and let others know how Montgomery College has positively impacted your teaching, learning, and work.
Ways for Employees and Students to Contribute to the MC AANAPISI Planning Group
Our Planning Group is opened to everyone at the College regardless of your ethnicity and background.
We meet once a month and work together to find resources to help and connect the AANAPISI employee and student populations at MC. These resources include conferences, scholarships, grants, and financial supports.
Some of the AANAPISI Planning Group's objectives include:
- Research resources and services students may need to enhance their holistic experience at MC
- Explore mentoring opportunities for students in these demographic populations
- Explore internal/external mentoring opportunities for employees in these demographic populations
- Provide external connection group information (community group, cohort, etc.)
- Research external professional development opportunities for students (conference, webinars, local events, etc.)
- Explore opportunities for faculty, staff, and administrators to participate in workshops, seminars, conferences, or other avenues to increase awareness
- Explore opportunities to engage in community events
- Explore opportunities to engage in collegewide events (e.g., AANAPISI Week, Asian Pacific Heritage Month)
To be eligible as a designated AANAPISI, an institution must meet several criteria as outlined in Section 312(b) of the Higher Education Act, which include:
- Undergraduate enrollment is at least 10 percent,
- Enrollment of at least 50 percent of students with low-economic background, and
- Institutions maintain low average of educational and general expenditures.
Learn more about the importance of AANAPISI in supporting Asian and Pacific Islander
students (PDF, ) .
- Native American Pacific Islanders—The term ‘Native American Pacific Islander’ means
any descendant of the aboriginal people of any island in the Pacific Ocean that is
a territory or possession of the United States.
- “Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander” includes Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Guamanian
or Chamorro, Fijian, Tongan, or Marshallese peoples and encompasses the people within
the United States jurisdictions of Melanesia,
Micronesia, and Polynesia
If you would like be part of the Planning Group and/or attend our upcoming meetings, please contact Dr. Shinta Hernandez.
- Wednesday, October 11, 2023 (PDF,
) | Wednesday, November 8, 2023 | Wednesday, December 13, 2023 | Wednesday, January 10, 2024 | Wednesday, February 14, 2024 | Wednesday, March 6, 2024 | Wednesday, April 10, 2024 | Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Tasting and Celebration
Tuesday, 11/14, 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Montgomery College is hosting its first ever LatinAsian fusion celebration. As you may know, the College received federal designations as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). To celebrate unity and create a greater sense of belonging for all communities, we are hosting this event on Tuesday, November 14, 5:00 -7:30 p.m., symbolically at the Long Nguyen and Kimmy Duong Student Services Center Atrium (SV Building) on the Rockville campus.
There will be plenty of food, music, activities, and entertainment that is reflective of the Hispanic and Asian cultures. There will also be an opportunity to hear a panel discussion from successful local entrepreneurs. This family-friendly event is open to the broader community, so please spread the word.
The AANAPI Student Club’s goal is to bring awareness of our Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander students at Montgomery College. We provide resources to help our AANAPI students thrive, be successful, and reach their professional and personal goals at the College and surrounding community.
- Explore resources and services students may need to enhance their holistic experience at MC.
- Explore mentoring opportunities for students.
- Explore professional development opportunities (conference, webinars, local events, etc.) for students.
- Explore opportunities to engage in community events.
- Explore opportunities to engage in collegewide events (e.g., AANAPISI Week, Asian Pacific Heritage Month).
If you are a student and want to join the AANAPI Student Club, please contact Nghi Nguyen (Club Advisor).
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If you have questions or need more information about the AANAPISI Planning Group and/or the AANAPI Student Club, please contact Nghi Nguyen and/or Dr. Shinta Hernandez.