ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö, 25 Years as an HSI, Celebrates National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week

Students at graduation

ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö, celebrating 25 years as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, is joining colleges and universities across the nation to recognize Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Week September 11-17. The week, which takes place during Hispanic Heritage Month observed September 15-October 15, is a time when HSIs celebrate and amplify the vital role they play in educating the fastest-growing demographic in the United States.  

HSIs are defined as having 25% or more undergraduate Hispanic student full-time equivalent enrollment. ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö is the largest private, non-profit HSI and minority-serving institution in the region. This year, approximately 60% of ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö’s incoming class identify as Hispanic or Latino. The University received national attention in September 2022 when it earned the prestigious Seal of Excelencia from Excelencia in Education, a national certification for intentionally serving Latino students. ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö is the first private college in the country, as well as the first HSI in New York State, to receive this certification.  

Hispanic enrollment at postsecondary institutions in the United States has grown significantly in the past decade and will continue to rise. According to the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Hispanic enrollment in higher education is expected to exceed 4.0 million students by 2026, far surpassing the growth rate of any other racial-ethnic group by over 10%. According to a recent by Excelencia in Education, ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö is among the top institutions in the state of New York among enrolling and graduating Latinos.   

As evidenced by earning the Seal of Excelencia, ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö fosters an environment where the fastest-growing demographic in the U.S. thrives. The certification affirms the work of ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö’s dedicated faculty, front-line staff, students, Board of Trustees, alumni, and supporters, all of whom have propelled dramatic improvements in student outcomes and enriched the campus culture. The scalable, evidence-based strategies used at ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö to increase rates of achievement for Hispanic and Latino students are outlined in the University's Student Success Toolkit 2.0.

To learn more about ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö’s 25 years as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, please click here.

ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö is hosting a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on the evening of Thursday, October 12. To learn more and RSVP, please .

Hispanic and Latino faculty at ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö take seriously the importance of being role models for ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö students. Rosaura Uscanga, Assistant Professor of Mathematics at ÃÍÄÐÇ鱨¾Ö, shares her thoughts on the importance of representation .