As announced in our last LEI newsletter, Worcester State University (WSU) has been recognized as an Emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (eHSI) by HACU (Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities) and Excelencia in Education. Since the 1990s, the U.S. Department of Education has designated 600 colleges and universities as HSIs. This designation is an important recognition, as all HSIs get extra federal funding, about $200 million across all HSIs each year. Under Title V, or the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program, the U.S. Department of Education has provided grant awards of up to $600,000.00 per year for five years!  Other entities that provide targeted funding to NHSs include the National Science Foundation and the US Department of Agriculture. WSU is on track to achieve this benchmark sooner rather than later, and the LEI can help WSU advance this process!

According to Dr. Edgar Moros, Executive Director of Affirmative Action & Equal Opportunity / Chief Diversity & Equity Officer, “Worcester State has made significant gains as far as Hispanic/Latinx students are concerned. During the past twenty-five years, the LEI has been critical in supporting this population at WSU and throughout the city of Worcester and beyond. It will continue to be a critical supporting component for the university when we apply for official designation as an HSI, after reaching the required 25% Hispanic/Latinx FTE (full-time equivalent) undergraduate student population.”

The funds provided by the US Department of Education can be used to expand educational opportunities for and improve the attainment of Hispanic students.  Funds could be used for scientific or laboratory equipment, construction or renovation of instructional facilities, faculty development, purchase of educational materials, academic tutoring or counseling programs, administrative management, distance learning academic instruction, student support services, and even endowment funds, among other possible uses. In other words, these funds enable HSIs to enhance or expand their academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability.

Currently, almost 18% of the WSU student population is identified as Hispanic/Latinx. HSIs are officially designated public or private nonprofit colleges and universities with a minimum of 25% of their undergraduate full-time equivalent (FTE) student population identifying as Hispanic.

Download the recent report about emerging HSIs from HACU.