Note: The terms “Hispanic” and “Latino” are often used interchangeably, even though they have different meanings, to refer to individuals of Central and South American descent. NCAN uses the more inclusive term “Latino/a” except when referring to federal nomenclature or an organizational name.
Happy Latin Heritage Month! September 15 marks the start of a month-long annual celebration in the United States that honors the history and culture of Latino/a's through events like food fairs, concerts, parades, community gatherings, and more. With
the Latino/a population growing rapidly in the US, it’s important to recognize the significance of improving access to education among this historically underserved population.
Hispanic-Serving Institutions, otherwise known as HSIs, have played a key role in creating an opportunity for Latino/a students to receive a higher education and graduate through effective strategies. HSIs were signed into law in 1992 by President George
H.W. Bush under the amendments of the Higher Education Act (HEA) of 1965 that defined them as accredited, degree-granting, public or private, nonprofit colleges or universities with 25% or more Latino/a enrollment. In 1998, when the HEA was in the
process of reauthorization, HSIs were redefined under a new Title V, Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Program. According to federal law, HSIs are
now defined as, “accredited and degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student enrollment.”
The movement to federalize HSIs started with the Hispanic Association of College and Universities (HACU), which was founded by a group of HSIs to address higher education issues in the
Latino/a community. It was in 1986 when they had realized that there needed to be more recognition, resources, and innovation to invest in Latino/a higher education in order to tackle the economic and systemic changes that were rising in the upcoming
century. HACU was born in late 1985 at a fundraising visit on the East Coast created by Dr. Antonio Rigual and Sister Elizabeth Anne Sueltenfuss of Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, TX, making the organization the only nationally recognized
voice for HSIs.
According to studies by HACU, from 1990 to 2010, the number of institutions that met HSI enrollment had increased from about 137 to 311, distinguishing them from Historically Black
Colleges and Universities and Tribal College and Universities which had fixed numbers due to their historical origins. As more Latino/a students have continued to pursue higher education, HSIs have paved the way for professional development opportunities,
such as establishing baccalaureate foundations for Latino/a doctoral scientists and engineers. This includes five of the 10 most productive institutions of future PhDs. HSIs can support their students and communities by instilling leadership development
and support advocacy to close educational gaps by promoting graduation amongst Latino/as.
It’s important for Latino/a students to become more aware of the opportunities that can arise from choosing to enroll in an HSI, as the focus of the institution revolves around serving the Latino/a community to provide the best educational development
for aspiring professionals. With the help from developed research, education, guidance, and administrative support of these institutions, Latino/a generations pursuing their academic goals can strongly benefit, increasing graduation and retention
rates. HSIs also create a diverse environment that includes various students from different countries which allows everyone in the community the chance to learn about other cultures and perspectives. When helping students determine their pathway towards
attending a college or university, consider exploring schools through HACU’s website and learning more about their missions to determine which might resonate the most with a student who may be interested in attending an HSI.
Email to a Friend