Dept. of Ed Recognizes TMCC as HSI

K. Patricia Bouweraerts
Graphic With Hispanic Nations Flags

The U.S. Department of Education has officially designated Truckee Meadows Community College a recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI).

TMCC met the eligibility requirements and surpassed the 25% full-time equivalent Hispanic student population threshold. The data qualifying colleges for HSI is collected at the end of the federal financial aid award year preceding the application date.

“To be designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution demonstrates TMCC’s commitment to diversity, which is one of our core values for the institution,” said Estela Levario Gutierrez, Vice President of Student Services and Diversity.

Being recognized as an HSI brings TMCC’s commitment to honoring diversity in higher education practices to national awareness.

“It will allow TMCC to participate in federal programs so that we remain at the forefront of change in higher education,” Gutierrez added.

Nevada Considered an Emerging HSI State

TMCC is a member of the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) Hispanic-Serving Institution Task Force. The initiative began with concerned higher education stakeholders in southern Nevada seeking to develop a statewide outlook concerning HSI. Members meet monthly to collaborate on HSI institutional efforts at a system level.

Nevada is considered an emerging HSI state, said YeVonne Allen, Program Manager of the Equity, Inclusion and Sustainability Office.

About the Hispanic-Serving Institution Designation

In 2016, the Department of Education began maintaining a list of HSIs, eligible to apply for HSI-related federal funding. HSI institutions must be nonprofit to qualify for the list.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) posts data regarding colleges that serve Hispanic populations, including categories such as full-time equivalency (FTE), amount of students completing degrees, and whether the institution is two-year, four-year, for profit or nonprofit.

TMCC is also one of 400 institutional members of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), a nonprofit organization that promotes Hispanic students’ success in college. To be a member of HACU, colleges must have a Hispanic population of 25 percent of the total headcount, a less stringent measure than FTE.

The mission of HACU and its member institutions include the following:

  • Improve legislation and governmental assistance for U.S. member colleges
  • Build the institutional capacity of members
  • Promote partnerships such as academic collaborations out of members’ home states

HACU is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Nevada State College (NSC) and College of Southern Nevada (CSN) are also members of HACU.

For more information about HSI, please contact the office of TMCC’s Vice President of Student Services and Diversity at 775-337-5647.