Framingham State University has been recognized as an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). 

The percentage of Framingham State's full time undergraduate population who identify as Hispanic or Latinx has grown from 4 percent to 17 percent over the last decade. Overall, there are only 23 public and private colleges in Massachusetts that are either HSIs or emerging HSIs.

All HSIs have 25 percent or more of Hispanic student enrollment. More than half of them are located in California and Texas alone. Emerging HSIs, such as Framingham State, have a Latino population of between 15 and 25 percent.

"We've worked hard in recent years to diversify our student body at FSU to keep up with the changing demographics in Massachusetts," says Framingham State President F. Javier Cevallos. "Recognition as an emerging HSI validates this work and hopefully makes us a more attractive option to other Hispanic and Latinx students around the state seeking to pursue their bachelor's degree."

Dr. Constanza Cabello, FSU's Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion and Community Engagement, says enrolling more Hispanic and Latinx students is only part of the equation.

"We want to be truly Hispanic serving and not just Hispanic enrolling," says Dr. Cabello, who leads an HSI taskforce at Framingham State. "We are looking at close to 20 recommendations about how we can create, promote, and inspire an environment that acknowledges the unique talents, strengths, and lived experiences of our Latinx students and their families."

Cabello says as a state university, FSU has a responsibility and obligation to the public to try to ensure that our campus population mirrors our region, which has seen its Hispanic population rise dramatically in recent years.

There are 539 HSIs Nationwide serving two-thirds of all Latinx undergraduates in the United States.

To learn more, visit: https://www.hacu.net/hacu/HSIs.asp