Inaugural Día de la Familia welcomes Latinx families

Chico State is excited to host its inaugural Día de la Familia, a free event where Latinx families from across the region are invited to connect with the campus community and discover the opportunities the University has to offer.  

Día de la Familia (Day of the Family) is designed to engage and empower Latinx families and their students in grades 9-11 who are curious about the college planning process and interested in attending Chico State. This immersive, family-friendly event takes place on Saturday, March 2, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sessions will be held in English and Spanish. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. While the event is geared toward Latinx families, all families interested in learning more about Chico State are welcome to attend and can register online.  

“We’re excited to embrace our Latinx families and students and lean into our identity and mission as a Hispanic-Serving Institution,” said Cirilo Cortez, associate vice president for student engagement and retention programs. “Día de la Familia is the perfect platform to celebrate family members, extend a warm welcome, and showcase our outstanding programs.” 

The event will include a welcome from President Steve Perez and a bilingual keynote address by Cortez. Families will meet with representatives from the offices of financial aid, admissions, and housing, explore majors, and learn how to prepare their students for college. Other highlights include a panel discussion featuring Latinx students, faculty, and staff designed to give prospective students a taste of what it is like to attend Chico State, and bilingual tours of the Chico State campus. Student organizations and campus departments will also host a resource fair. 

Today, nearly 40% of Chico State students identify as Latinx. A Hispanic-Serving Institution since 2015, Chico State has invested in and received grants for numerous programs to support historically underserved students, particularly those from Latinx backgrounds. Programs like Chico STEM Connections Collaborative and Adelante provide hands-on research opportunities and mentorship. Last fall, the Graduate Equity Fellowship Program at Chico State was one of only four programs to be named a winner in the graduate category of the 2023 Examples of Excelencia by Excelencia in Education, the nation’s leading authority on efforts to accelerate Latinx student success in higher education. A Latinx Affinity Center will open on campus in the fall of 2024 to support student success.  

Día de la Familia is a collaborative effort between several campus departments, including the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Enrollment Management, the Latinx Equity and Success Department, and the Office of Student Affairs. 

Those who require accommodations or who have questions about accessibility may contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 530-898-5959. 

About California State University, Chico  

California State University, Chico is the second-oldest institution in the 23-campus CSU system, the nation’s largest public university system. Founded in 1887, Chico State enrolls approximately 14,000 students and serves as the comprehensive university of the North State, the 12-county region where the campus is located. The campus is consistently ranked as one of the best regional public universities in the Western United States and recognized for its quality of education, affordability, value, and alumni success. Its mission includes enduring commitments to academic distinction, transformative student experiences, prominent scholarship and innovation, and a culture of excellence and accountability. With strategic priorities of equity, diversity, and inclusion; civic and global engagement; and resilient and sustainable systems, Chico State is working to solve the unprecedented global challenges of the 21st century.  

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