The Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative (SAandPIRI) promotes academic excellence, connectedness and empowering leadership. (SAandPIRI) is a welcoming space and open to all students, regardless of identity, who are interested in exploring and understanding the Asian and Pacific Islandar Diasporic experiences and engaging in productive dialogue and community with others. SAandPIRI is open to all students and is informed by federal and institutional frameworks such as the Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) designation, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs).
Through academic support, mentorship, leadership development and student-centered programming, SAandPIRI plays a critical role in student retention by ensuring that all participating students, regardless of identity, have the guidance and community necessary to persist and graduate.
SAandPIRI fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment by providing a variety of tools, resources and opportunities that support students’ holistic development and transformation throughout their college journey. The retention initiative serves as a valuable resource for any student who seeks to develop their cultural competency and contribute to a campus environment that values diversity, connection and a shared commitment to the success of all students.
By engaging with SAandPIRI, students will be able to:
- Identify campus resources and programs that promote and uplift students and scholars.
- Develop self-advocacy and self-awareness skills to strengthen student autonomy in educational environments.
- Construct a definition of success that aligns with students’ cultural values, personal vocations and overall purpose.
- Establish networks of care, mentorship and professionalism to support student goals.
To learn more about the specific programs and events connected to the SAandPIRI, please visit our services page.
What constitutes as "Asian and Pacific Islander"?
We recognize that the Asian and Pacific Islander community is full of diverse identities and backgrounds. Additionally, our partners at MENASA Student Resources are also available to provide support. Given the multiplicity of our diasporas, Asia and the Pacific Islands are generally identified by the following regions and modern-day socio-political country names. Additionally, the country names listed below are limited to the continental affiliations and may not be reflective of cultural norms and values espoused by folks who identify as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander:
5 Regions of Asia
- Central Asia
- Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan
- East Asia
- China, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau
- South Asia
- Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Iran, the Maldives
- Southeast Asia
- Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste, Vietnam
- Western Asia
- Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Iraq, Oman, Yemen, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
3 Regions of the Pacific Islands (Pasifika or Oceania)
- Melanesia
- Fiji, New Caledonia, West Papua and Makulu Islands, Solomon Islands, Torres Strait Islands, Vanuatu
- Micronesia
- The Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands
- Polynesia
- American Sāmoa, Cook Islands, Easter Island, French Polynesia, Kingdom of Hawaii, New Zealand, Niue, Norfolk Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Rotuma, Sāmoa, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Wallis and Futuna