What Is the History of Hispanic-Serving Institutions?

• In Event: What Do We Know About Hispanic-Serving Institutions? The Politics of Acknowledgement in Institutions of Higher Education

Abstract

The term "Hispanic Serving Institution” is relatively young, dating back to only 1984, when members of Congress started proposing legislation to financially assist colleges that enroll many Hispanic students. Unlike Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Tribal Colleges, whose definitions relate directly to their missions and the way they were created, Hispanic Serving Institutions include colleges that were created without any thought of serving Latino students -- and in some cases, these colleges only recently attracted significant numbers of such students. This said, the number of HSIs is growing and will continue to grow. While the designation of "Hispanic Serving" is important for sending a message to prospective students and making a college eligible for certain programs, a shift in regional demographics may transform a college’s student body, but, for better or worse, not its focus. Discussions that take an in-depth look at these institutions and the issues raised by the concentration of Hispanic students at these colleges and universities will be presented.

Authors

• Hermán S. García, New Mexico State University

• Rudolfo C. Chávez, New Mexico State University

• Marisol Oriana Ruiz, New Mexico State University

• Heather A. Oesterreich, New Mexico State University