FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2023
HACU recognized in California with Resolution on the start of Hispanic Heritage Month
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities applauds Representative Eloise Gómez Reyes of the 50th Assembly District of California for leading the passage of a resolution on September 15, 2023, recognizing the work of HACU and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the state to advance the higher education success of Hispanic students and their communities.
The resolution noted that, “For 37 years, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has pioneered the advancement of Hispanic higher education in the Golden State, promoting and advocating a vision of academic excellence and the belief in the transformative power of education.” Also noted was that “HSIs serve more than 92 percent of the State's Hispanic student population and contribute more than 82 percent of the total student population, epitomizing their role as cornerstones of education and society.”
California is home to 170 Hispanic-Serving Institutions, nearly 30 percent of all HSIs in the U.S., and 47 emerging HSIs. National HSIs Week was celebrated this year from Sept. 11-17, 2023, with Hispanic Heritage Month observed from September 15 to October 15.
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.
Congress first formally recognized campuses with high Hispanic enrollment as federally designated HSIs in 1992, and in 1995 HSIs received the initial federal appropriations.
Below are some links to additional information about HSIs:
Download HSIs Fact Sheet here.
Download HSIs Quick Fact Sheet here.
View the list of HSIs here and Emerging HSIs here.