Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) are defined in federal law as accredited and degree-granting public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education with 25 percent or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student enrollment. The defining characteristic of HSIs is their Hispanic enrollment, not their institutional mission. This page provides a variety of information about the important and evolving role played by HSIs in U.S. higher education.

Excelencia's Series on Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Leading in a Changing AmericaLeading in a Changing America: Presidential Perspectives from Hispanic Serving Institutions

June 2009

This report portrays the perspectives and leadership choices by a select group of college and university presidents who are on the front lines of the changing higher education landscape. These leaders offer pragmatic approaches for serving first generation college-going students in the present and visions for the future of higher education that can inform the future of public policy in higher education to serve a changing America.

All are presidents of institutions that enroll large numbers of nontraditional college students in some of the largest and most populous states in the country: California, New York, and Texas. Their institutions rank among the top in the country in both enrolling and graduating Latinos.

Modeling HSIModeling Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs):
Campus Practices That Work for Latino Students

Deborah A. Santiago, June 2008

New report focuses on successful practices at 12 top-ranked Hispanic-Serving Institutions working to increase Latino student success. Designed to provide a closer view of effective leadership, institutional practices, and guiding principles supporting Latino student success, this report offers promising ideas and strategies for all U.S colleges and universities to bolster results for Latino students.

Choosing Hispanic-Serving InstitutionsChoosing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs):
A Closer Look at Latino Students’ College Choices

Deborah A. Santiago, August 2007

In this second brief we examine Latino students’ college choices. While Latino students may not be aware of the HSI designation, they are in fact converting existing colleges and institutions into HSIs simply as a function of their own decisions—a trend that shows signs of continuing for several more years. To examine Latino students’ college choices, we blended analysis of national enrollment patterns with data from focus groups conducted with Latino college students from different institutions across the country. The results show the impact of Latino students’ emphasis on selecting colleges near their homes. This emphasis, coupled with the concentration of Latino housing patterns, leads to the concentrated enrollments of Latino students that form HSIs.

Deborah Santiago, PhD, Excelencia Vice President for Policy and Research and author of the publication, was interviewed for an article and podcast by Inside Higher Education. Read more about this publication through the Press Release.

Inventing HSIsInventing Hispanic-Serving Institutions: The Basics (PDF)

Deborah A. Santiago, March 2006

HSIs (Hispanic-Serving Institutions) are important institutions for Latinos, yet little research exists on them. This brief serves as a primer on the conditions and history behind their invention, the processes for identification, and the general institutional characteristics of HSIs. It also offers an overview of how these institutions are contributing to Latino student success.

There is one more publications in the HSI series planned for 2009: Refining Measures of Success at Hispanic-Serving Institutions. Learn more.

Perspectives on HSIs

"Hispanic-serving Institutions are on the crest of a demographic wave in this nation. They are our laboratories for fostering Hispanic student success, and other colleges and universities will look to them for guidance and leadership."
– Ruben Hinojosa U.S. Representative, Texas

"Since its inception, Excelencia has acknowledged the crucial role of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) and has challenged them to double our efforts to get better results. By providing HSIs with knowledge and research on enrollment and attainment rates, Excelencia has helped focus institutions on the important aspects of their mission, including attracting and graduating Latino students and better serving the community."
– José Jaime Rivera, president, Sacred Heart University, Puerto Rico

"Latino student success should be a critical part of every institutional measure of success, and Excelencia is helping lead the way."
– Ricardo Fernandez, president, City University of New York, Lehman College and board chair 2007-08, American Council on Education and Excelencia Honorary Board Member

"It has become evident that regardless of what institutions have been doing, Latino students are the ones responsible for creating Hispanic-Serving Institutions. By basing enrollment decisions on costs and location, Latino students are sending a clear message on what they value in a college. As the population continues to grow, it would be wise for higher education institutions to take note.
– Sarita Brown, president Excelencia in Education

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Website functions as an information-sharing resource on practices to improve institutional effectiveness and to increase the impact of outreach, recruitment and retention programs focusing on Hispanic/Latino students at HSIs and at other institutions with substantial Hispanic/Latino student populations.