What is an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI)?
The UC Davis AANAPISI Initiative supports the recruitment, retention and graduation of Asian American and Pacific Islander students. Colleges and universities are designated as eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) when they meet two primary criteria: (1) eligibility as an eligible institution according to Section 312(b) of the Higher Education Act of 19651 as amended and (2) at least 10 percent Asian American and Pacific Islander undergraduate enrollment. The federal AANAPISI classification was created with the signing of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act of 2007.
The U.S. Department of Education’s term “Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander” refers to students with origins from East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Federal funding through the Title III Part A and Part F AANAPISI grant programs has supported many first-generation, immigrant, low-income students.
Notable facts about AANAPISIs nationally:
- Of all the different Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs), AANAPISIs are one of the newest.
- AANAPISIs numerically represent the second-largest group of MSIs, but have historically been the least funded designation. In 2022, AANAPISIs received only 1.5% of the U.S. Department of Education’s appropriations for MSIs.
- Despite the limited appropriations, 75% of low-income AandPI students attend an AANAPISI.
- AANAPISIs enroll over 40% of all AandPI college undergraduate students, even though AANAPISIs only make up about 6% of colleges and universities in the U.S.
- While the focus is on serving AandPI students, AANAPISI programs have benefited all students at each AANAPISI, regardless of background.
AANAPISI Executive Council
The UC Davis AANAPISI designation reflects the university’s commitment to removing barriers to advancing equity for historically underserved Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students. This work calls on the campus community to create authentic, culturally relevant spaces of learning, belonging, and innovation for all.
Kat Parpana
Administrative Co-Chair
Director, AandPI Retention Initiative
Dr. Susette Min
Faculty Co-Chair
Department Chair, Asian American Studies
Dr. Hendry Ton
Faculty Co-Chair
Associate Vice Chancellor, Office for Health Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Dr. Pablo Reguerín
Executive Sponsor
Vice Chancellor, Division of Student Affairs
Dr. Kevin Gee
Faculty, School of Education
Dr. Malisa Lee
Vice Provost, Enrollment Management
Chris Pangelina
Associate Director, AandPI Retention Initiative
Dr. Lindsay Romasanta
Chief of Staff, Division of Student Affairs
Dr. Binnie Singh
Associate Vice Provost, Academic Affairs
Audrey Tang
AANAPISI Undergraduate Research Fellow
Angel Truong
Office Coordinator, AandPI Retention Initiative
Dr. Mikael Villalobos
Associate Vice Chancellor, Office of Campus Community Relations in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Affaf Waseem
Director, Middle Eastern North African and South Asian Student Resources
Dr. Kristine Jan Cruz Espinoza
Consultant
Cal Lutheran University