About
What is an HSI?
- A Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) is defined as an institution of higher education that:
- is an eligible institution; and
- has an enrollment of undergraduate full-time equivalent students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic students at the end of the award year immediately preceding the date of application (US Department of Education, 2021)
Definitions of “servingness” and “belongingness”
- Servingness is a concept that Garcia, Núñez, and Sansone (2019) argue is a multidimensional and conceptual way to understand what it means to move from simply enrolling Latinx students to actually serving them.
Belongingness is the quality or state of being an essential or important part of something. It implies how someone is a part of (as opposed to apart from) some gather whole. Thus, a sense of belonging is a human need, just like the need for food and shelter. The need to belong involves more than simply being acquainted with other people. It is instead centered on gaining acceptance, attention, and support from members of the group as well as the broader institutions that shape and, thus, gives meaning to one’s life (NYU Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, 2023)
Title V
Title III (part f)
What do “servingness” and “belongingness” mean?
- Servingness is a concept that Garcia, Núñez, and Sansone (2019) argue is a multidimensional and conceptual way to understand what it means to move from simply enrolling Latinx students to actually serving them.
- Belongingness is the quality or state of being an essential or important part of something. It implies how someone is a part of (as opposed to apart from) some gather whole. Thus, a sense of belonging is a human need, just like the need for food and shelter. The need to belong involves more than simply being acquainted with other people. It is instead centered on gaining acceptance, attention, and support from members of the group as well as the broader institutions that shape and, thus, gives meaning to one’s life (NYU Office of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging, 2023)
History of HSI’s and Institutional History
Benefits of Being a Designated HSI
- Designated Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) enhance campus culture and academic practices by integrating and revitalizing the campus environment through the infusion of Hispanic and Latino/a/x/e perspectives.
- Increase Institutional Capacity to Serve Students
- Enrollment Based
- Student Success and Support Programs
- Through the additional federal funding HSIs are able to provide increased student and faculty support for Hispanic and Latino/a/x/e campus members. This support can take form in experiences, outreach, and training to increase cultural competency around these specific groups.
- Develop Faculty & Staff
- Curriculum Development
