Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina Records UPE 503

Summary Information

Prepared by

Joseph-James Ahern

Preparation date

July 2016

Date [inclusive]

1973-2015

Extent

4.25 Cubic feet

PROVENANCE

The Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina Records were transferred to the University Archives in October 2015 (Accession No. 2015: 039).

ARRANGEMENT

The Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina Records are organized into two series: Administrative and Programs and Events. Each series is arranged alphabetically.

AGENCY HISTORY

The Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina can trace its origin to 1994 when the Latino Faculty and Staff Association and the Latino Student Coalition were both formed. The two groups came together in May 1998 from the students’ desire for a meeting location and an administrator who would advocate for an increased Latino presence at the University of Pennsylvania. Out of this meeting came the design for La Casa Latina, a comprehensive resource center that would meet the needs of the Latino community of the four undergraduate schools. President Judith Rodin inaugurated the University of Pennsylvania Center for Hispanic Excellence on September 21, 1999. The mission of La Casa Latina is to support the University’s Agenda for Excellence by assisting with the recruitment and matriculation of Latino students. Under the Office of the Vice Provost of University Life the Center the Center works with the Penn and Hispanic communities to develop strategies for the retention of Latino students by fostering the integration of academic, social, cultural, research and community service activities.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The La Casa Latina Records document the administrative and program activities of the Center for Hispanic Excellence at the University of Pennsylvania. Part of the Office of the Vice Provost for University Life, La Casa Latina’s programs mainly focus on student activities – namely professional development and ethnic heritage. The Administrative records focus strategic planning, fund raising, and annual reports. The Programs and Events records consist mainly of flyers, literature and photographs for the Center’s annual events.

Under the University’s access guidelines, some records are subject to closure up to 25 years from the date of creation.

Controlled Access Headings

Corporate Name(s)

Center for Hispanic Excellence: La Casa Latina.

Vice Provost for University Life.

Occupation(s)

University of Pennsylvania–Students.

Inventory