SAN ANTONIO – Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the country are being recognized this week by President Biden, during National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, before the start of Hispanic Heritage Month being celebrated Sept. 15-Oct. 15.
On September 9, the White House issued a proclamation designating September 12-18, 2022, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. To read the full proclamation, click here.
"Today, Hispanic students make up nearly 20 percent of college undergraduates in the United States. They are our future leaders — the next generation of doctors and teachers, entrepreneurs and artists, first responders and scientists, elected officials and activists. Ensuring that these young people are prepared to take on the challenges of tomorrow is critical to the future of our Nation. That is why this week we celebrate Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), which foster cultures of belonging and respect on their campuses and offer Hispanic students a nurturing, inclusive environment to learn and grow.," states President Biden in the proclamation.
In 1992, HACU led the effort to convince Congress to formally recognize campuses with high Hispanic enrollment as federally designated HSIs and to begin targeting federal appropriations to those campuses. (Click here for more information about the differences between HACU's definition of HSIs and the federal definition of HSIs under Title V of the Higher Education Act.)
Congress first formally recognized campuses with high Hispanic enrollment as federally designated HSIs in 1992, and in 1995 HSIs received the initial federal appropriations. South Mountain Community College is proud to serve as just one of the hundreds of HSIs throughout the country.