Across the U.S., the Latinx population is booming.
Eighteen percent (18%) of the population identifies as Latinx, according to the 2020 census. Before the pandemic, the largest share of enrollment growth belonged to the Latinx population.
In fact, Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), colleges or universities with a student population that is at least 25% Latinx, grew by 94% between 2010 and 2020, according to Excelencia! in Education. Excelencia!’ president and CEO Dr. Deborah Santiago, and other leading experts, believe the number of HSIs will continue to grow.
HSIs receive federal funding meant to improve Latinx education. But truly serving the Latinx student population isn’t as simple as applying for HSI qualification. Experts say institutions need to reach out to Latinx communities, embrace family involvement, employ Latinx staff and faculty in leadership positions, and work to ensure that Latinx students feel comfortable on campus. Doing this is not just an equity imperative, they say, but crucial to the survival of the American economy.
Dr. Antonio R. Flores
“More than half of all the new workers joining our labor force nationwide everyday are Hispanic,” said Dr. Antonio R. Flores, president and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). HACU’s leadership led the push in 1992 that resulted in Congress officially recognizing HSIs. “[Congress] needs to invest in those institutions that are graduating by far the largest groups of new workers joining the American labor force.”
“If you don’t have a highly educated workforce, eventually, you’ll get behind other countries," Flores said. "Your economy is not growing as fast in different ways. It’s investing in America’s future, really, to invest in an HSI."
