The United States Department of State named Lone Star College System a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) Leader for 2024. LSCS, also a 2023 recipient, received this notable distinction for its engagement with the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship international academic exchange program.
“Lone Star College System offers academic and workforce programs as well as resources to ensure all students receive a well-rounded education, setting them up for success,” said Mario K. Castillo, J.D., LSC chancellor. “Being recognized as a Fulbright HSI Leader for the second year in a row is a strong testament to the work Lone Star College System is doing to prepare our future trailblazers once they graduate, transfer to a four-year university, or enter the workforce.”
LSCS is one of 51 colleges and universities nationally to receive this distinction, only seven of which are two-year colleges. Other recognized colleges and universities include five baccalaureate colleges and special focus institutions, 10 master’s colleges and universities, and 29 doctoral universities.
Fulbright announced LSCS and the other HSI Leaders during the International Plenary Session of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) annual conference Nov. 3. Fulbright chose recipients based on their support for Fulbright exchange participants, encouragement of employees and students to engage with Fulbright activities on campus and their strength as destinations for international students and scholars.
“Fulbrighters from HSIs contribute to the program’s goal of reflecting the full diversity, perspectives and talents of the American people,” said Scott Weinhold, U.S. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs senior bureau official, in a press release.
Lone Star College System is involved in various Fulbright programs and initiatives. LSCS is a host college for Community College for International Development (CCID), which co-sponsors Fulbright Program webinars with the LSC Office of Honors and International Education. Additionally, the college received two Fulbright Scholar Program scholarships in 2022-2023, creating academic connections in France and South Korea.
“The Fulbright Scholars program provides faculty and staff with incredible opportunities for professional development, leading them to internationalize their classrooms to help broaden our students’ perspectives on the local, national and global stage,” said Katharine Caruso, Ph.D., LSCS associate vice chancellor, Honors and International Education.
Hispanic-Serving Institutions are colleges and universities whose full-time student enrollment is at least 25% Hispanic. LSCS welcomed 41,274 Hispanic students in fall 2024, representing nearly 45% of the total student population.
Registration is underway for the winter 2024 and spring 2025 semesters. Students can now plan a full year of courses. Learn more at LoneStar.edu/Registration.
Lone Star College System enrolls over 90,000 students each semester providing high-quality, low-cost academic transfer and career training education. LSCS is training tomorrow’s workforce today and redefining the community college experience to support student success. Mario K. Castillo, J.D., serves as Chancellor of LSCS, the largest institution of higher education in the Houston area and has been named a 2024 Great Colleges to Work For® institution by the Chronicle of Higher Education. LSCS consists of eight colleges, seven centers, eight Workforce Centers of Excellence and Lone Star Corporate College. To learn more, visit LoneStar.edu.