Siena’s long history rooted in the Dominican intellectual tradition has led to several initiatives aimed at making education affordable and accessible, meeting students where they are and helping them find ways to earn their degree, even with a limited income. This is especially important for students who are the first in their family to attend college or face financial challenges that may make pursuing higher education seem impossible. 

“I want students to know, especially Hispanic students, that they have a door open to them here at Siena. I know the Hispanic community and culture and do my best to bridge the gap between high school and college for them,” said Steve Gonzalez, Admissions Counselor and Latino & Hispanic Students Coordinator for Siena Heights. “Part of our Dominican tradition is to provide education for people that don’t have access to quality higher education, and we especially want Hispanic families to know that Siena is a viable option for them.” 

Dominican Inspired Accessibility Initiatives 

“My hope is that through this renewed focus on easier access to higher education as well as improved affordability options, there will be more teachers, more business owners, and more engineers in our community and throughout Michigan who got their degree at Siena Heights,” said Steve. “We want to see more first-generation Hispanic students fulfilling their dreams because we showed them how they could afford it and supported them throughout their journey.” 

Siena Heights University developed the new Brain Gain Promise to increase Michigan students’ access to quality and affordable higher education. It is a tuition-free guarantee for eligible Michigan residents who file the FAFSA.  

“For this community, it’s just going to be big. Many Hispanic students don’t know about the college process,” said Steve. “A lot of the time they’re coming in without any prior knowledge from their parents or their grandparents. They think it’s not possible to go to college, it’s very expensive, or they wouldn’t qualify. Our job is to meet them where they’re at, show them how it’s possible, and then guide them from that point on.” 

“A lot of people in Lenawee County don’t know how easy and affordable it is to attend Siena Heights. Sometimes it can be just as affordable as attending a local community college,” explained Danilo Riella, Director of Undergraduate Admissions for Siena. “But the fact is that students that qualify for the Brain Gain and commute oftentimes attend Siena nearly free of charge. For those outside of the commuting area, there are still options for grants that can cover some of the housing costs.” 

By increasing Michigan students’ access to quality and affordable higher education, Siena Heights hopes to boost the connections and opportunities that come through internships, experiential learning, service learning, and the curricular and co-curricular benefits of a liberal arts education. 

“We have been working to connect Hispanic students with smaller universities through an alliance with other private schools in Michigan. Typically, students coming from Hispanic family’s only know of the big public universities and don’t really have a lot of knowledge about the private colleges,” said Danilo. “They always think it’s too expensive or their parents don’t really support them in going to schools like Siena. So, we want to show them it is possible to go to a private school. There are funding options, scholarship opportunities, and support for the Hispanic students that make Siena a better choice in many ways.” 

Creating Community 

While making it more affordable to get a degree is important, there is equal weight given to providing opportunities for Hispanic students to build relationships and share experiences at Siena Heights.  

“Hispanic students can sometimes have very unique needs that other students wouldn’t have,” said Steve. “That’s why we’re developing a club for Hispanic students on campus, helping them to connect with one another, whether they are from Michigan or some other place around the world.” 

The club will occupy a space in Dominican Hall to hold meetings, host events, and provide a place to hang out and watch a soccer game. Members will also be invited to attend off-campus events and trips throughout the year.  

“We’re excited to get the club up and running this year,” said Danilo. “I think it’s an important step in supporting Hispanic and international students and helping them to be successful here at Siena.” 

“I want them to feel like they have familia here as well,” said Steve. “There’s nothing like being surrounded by people who speak your first language and have shared cultural experiences. I believe the club will help us accomplish that feeling of family.”