Hispanic Serving Institutions Week

Written By Christine Hernandez
American Association of University Women

I didn’t know that I was a student at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) until the beginning of my senior year in college. The Dean of Students at Cal State Fullerton, Dr. Kandy Mink Salas, let me know of an opportunity to attend the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) annual conference in Denver, CO. The university sponsored several students to attend the conference in 2008. What made 2008 unique and inspiring for me was to see our President Gordon take on the role of HACU president.


Before attending HACU, I had never really thought about institutional type other than 4-year/2-year and public/private. I knew that I had to learn more about Hispanic Serving Institutions, their history, and their relevancy to the greater higher education discussion. I was inspired to learn more about the topic of minority serving institutions through my higher education master’s program.

You may not know this but #HSIweek is September 16-22 this year. I thought it might be helpful to share some information about HSIs for those who may not be aware of its history.

In 1983, national hearings on postsecondary education brought attention to the fact that Hispanic enrollments were increasingly concentrated in a small number of institutions. At the same time, issues of access, completion, and financial support were discussed. The term, “Hispanic-Serving Institution” was given national attention in 1986 by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities. Hispanic Serving Institutions were included in federal policy in 1992 and the first appropriation of $12 million was distributed under the Developing Institutions Program for Hispanic Serving Institutions.

HSIs are defined by law as “accredited and degree granting public or private non-profit institutions of higher education with 25 percent or more undergraduate Hispanic full time equivalent student enrollment”. At least 50% of those Hispanic students must be from low-income families. With limited exceptions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions were not originally established as such but developed as a result of changing student populations. Overall, Hispanic-Serving Institutions are characterized as institutions with overall diverse student enrollments. Most are public 4-year institutions or community colleges.

Although such institutions represent a small proportion, 6%, of all postsecondary institutions, Hispanic-Serving Institutions enroll almost half of all Latino undergraduates. In 2010, 30% of all students at my own undergraduate institution identified as Hispanic. In 2012, Cal State Fullerton was the first in the state and fourth nationally for the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students. Many HSIs like my own undergraduate institution are able to do some fantastic work for students.

Title V of the Higher Education Act provides competitive five-year grants for Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Since the first authorization in 1994, more than 200 grants have been awarded, with an average of $375,000 per year. In 2009, more than $16 million were distributed to 29 institutions under the grant. Funds may be spent on a variety of projects at the institution, ranging from capital improvements to new or existing university programs in student services, academic affairs, or other areas.

Through these funds and through the leadership and direction of higher education administrators, many HSIs have done an exceptional job in supporting and graduating Hispanic students. Most HSIs were not formed with the distinct mission to serve and graduate Hispanic students, rather many campuses been able to use Title V funding to support students who come from traditionally underserved backgrounds.

Interested in learning what colleges and universities are categorized as HSIs? There are a few ways to check. You can visit the U.S. Department of Education website to see which institutions have received Title V funding. Excelencia in Education produces a list of HSIs as well and HACU has a list of member HSIs.

HACU provided a list of ways that institutions can celebrate #HSIweek this September, including:

1. Raising awareness

2. Hosting a campus forum

3. Organize a community-wide activity

4. Use the web

5. Showcase your students

6. Celebrate National HSIs Week in your own unique way

7. Share your institution’s plan

I would encourage you to spend some time learning more about Hispanic Serving Institutions. Excelencia in Education has done several excellent reports on this topic and you can also search for articles in the Journal of Hispanic Higher Education. Search around to see if your institutions are HSIs and don’t forget to follow the #HSIweek hashtag this month to learn more about what campuses are doing around the country.

Dr. Milton Gordon, former HACU and Cal State Fullerton president with Christine Hernandez (right) and another attendee at the 2009 HACU conference.

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About the Author

Christine Hernandez is the Manager of College/University Relationships at the American Association of University Women.  She earned her Master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Pennsylvania and her Bachelor’s in English from California State University, Fullerton.