Our Purpose
Chicano Student Programs was founded on campus in 1972. It remains the only existing Chicano student services department in the UC system. The “official” purpose of Chicano Student Programs was to “create a vehicle for professors to become active with the Chicano community”. But Chicano faculty along with students and staff on campus were already reaching out to the community so the need to solidify these efforts was addressed by creating Chicano Student Programs.
Founders and Staff
The program was developed by a committee which included Dr. Eugene Cota Robles, a micro-biologist and the department chair of Chicano Studies; Dr. Carlos Cortes, historian and Chicano Studies professor; and Alberto Richard Chavez, the assistant-dean of student services.
Alberto R. Chavez was selected as the first Director of Chicano Student Programs. He continued as director until 1986 when he was succeeded by Rebecca Chavez who held the position for one year.
Subsequently, Roberto Nava was hired until the latter part of 1989 when he turned it over to Alfredo Figueroa. During a one-year interim period in the early eighties, UCR alumni, Raymond Navarro also served as program director. Since, 2004 and after many years of dedication, involvement and work within CSP (student assistant, senior clerk and cultural/social programmer) Estella Acuña has most recently taken the role of director.
Support staff have included Aurora Gonzalez, Armida Amaya, Estela Figueroa, Jacalyn Lopez Garcia, and Lydia Enriquez. The social/cultural programmer position created in 1988 has been held by Josefina Canchola, Carolyn Sandoval, Veronica Hernandez, and now, Elena Perez.
Meaningful Location
Even the location of the program’s office has political meaning to Raza on campus. Originally, the office was located on the second floor of Library South adjacent to the enormous “El Centro” meeting room. Across the hall was the Chicano Studies Department and on the same floor, the offices of EOP/SAA Support Services.
With the demise of the Chicano Studies Department and other occurring events, the office was moved to the commons area for “more visibility” and reduced the size to almost half it’s space. But Chicano Student Programs endured and continues to offer Raza students a “home away from home”.
For another two years after, the program lived in trailers while Commons space was renovated for a new office. In 1991, Chicano Student Programs opened its doors at its current location at 229 Costo Hall. It recently expanded to include an annex for students and staff to use.
For those who are wondering, yes the mural still exists. It is still displayed as a wall-length artwork just as it was in the first library-south location. The mural was painted and designed by local artist, Chano Gonzalez, circa 1975 funded by a National Council of the Arts grant.
Chicano Student Programs has always been the stomping grounds for UCR Raza to congregate and work on serving the needs of students and the Chicano community. Throughout the seventies, El Centro was the site of the Chicano Advisory Committee meetings.
Today, El Centro houses over seventeen different Chicano student organizations and assists in bringing together groups such as the Chicano Educational and Cultural Fund and others for meetings and events.
Outreach and Awareness
Chicano Student Programs also continues to provide outreach and cultural awareness to elementary, junior high, and high school students through campus visits, Raza Studies, Chicano Tutorial, conferences, etc. The Chicano/Latino Youth Conference which promotes higher education as the key message is now in its twelfth year.
With the passage of 209, the risk of eliminating Chicano Student Programs continues to surface. The proposition interprets CSP’s promotion of cultural awareness and support for Chicanos in higher education as non-compliant with the goals of educational equality. However, CSP, with the community, will continue its necessary role in the recruitment of Chicano students for their retention and success at UCR.