Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) Task Force
Becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution:
The Imperative at Metro State
In April 2007, Metropolitan State College of Denver launched the bold goal of becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), increasing its Latino student enrollment from its current 13 percent to 25 percent.
Increasing the college enrollment of Latinos is imperative for Colorado, as they are the fastest-growing segment of the state's population. Recent census data show that one in five Coloradans is Latino, and the growth rate of the Latino population is more than double that of the total population in the state.
With the second-largest undergraduate student population in Colorado and the highest number of students of color, Metro State already enrolls a quarter of the state's baccalaureate-seeking Latino students. If enrollment of Latinos continues to grow at its current rate, the College will achieve HSI status within the next decade.
The HSI designation brings benefits to all students and all faculty, with funding available for projects that range from student support programs to classroom technology.
Metro State president Stephen Jordan appointed the Hispanic Serving Institution Task Force in July 2007 with the explicit goal of determining a recommended path to HSI status. The HSI task force has been charged to develop its recommendations by February 2008.