HSI

Hispanic/Latino students have represented almost a quarter of all UCF students since fall 2016 – UCF embraced its Hispanic Serving Institution identity prior to eligibility confirmation by the Department of Education. As of January 29, 2019, UCF is now officially listed in the 2019 list of eligible institutions by the Department of Education.

Yes, UCF has already begun to pursue many federal funding opportunities that encourage Hispanic/Minority Serving Institution participation. Dr. Cyndia Muñiz, Assistant Director of Hispanic Initiatives, will coordinate UCF’s Title III (A/F) and Title V(A/B) grant submissions to the Department of Education with support from the Office of Research.

If you need assistance with defining what SERVING means for your area, you can schedule a HSI consultation with Dr. Muñiz by emailing HSI@ucf.edu.

IPEDS data submitted by UCF Institutional Knowledge Management to the National Center for Education Statistics is reviewed by the Department of Education. Upon their review of UCF’s final fall 2016 and provisional fall 2017 data, the Department of Education has confirmed UCF’s eligibility. Dr. Cyndia Muñiz will submit the application for designation in February 2019.

The Department of Education publishes a list of colleges/universities eligible for designation every year based on the following criteria: (1) Hispanic Enrollment; (2) Low-income Enrollment and (3) University Expenditures. UCF is confirmed to have met the Needy Student and Core Expenses requirements in 2016 and will submit 2017 enrollment figures in February 2019 for confirmation.

At UCF, we aspire to be the national leader in what it means to be Hispanic SERVING. All areas across the university are encouraged to implement innovative strategies that foster a sense of belonging and maximize Latino talent. Our intentional efforts to SERVE the Latino community will guide our efforts in SERVING all of our diverse communities on campus.

According to Fall 2017 IPEDS data published via the National Center for Education Statistics:

• Florida International University – 68%
• Florida Atlantic University – 27%
• University of Central Florida – 26%
• University of Miami – 23%
• University of Florida – 21%
• University of South Florida (Main) – 21%
• Florida State University – 20%
• University of North Florida – 12%

Celebrating our pride in our HSI campus identity does not dismiss those who do not identify with this cultural group. The opportunities and resources that come along with the recognition of this growing population will benefit all UCF Knights. Our goal is to embrace this new identity while maintaining our commitment to an inclusive campus culture that prides itself in the success of all.

UCF’s large concentration Hispanic/Latino students (27% Undergraduate) allows UCF to compete for federal funding opportunities that are intended to improve the educational experience of Hispanic and low-income students, and strengthen the institutional capacity of the university overall.

There are several federal agencies that facilitate HSI (and Minority Serving Institution) related grant competitions. Foundations with an interest in Hispanic/Latino achievement may also provide additional funding opportunities.

The significant growth of the Hispanic/Latino community at UCF provides a culturally enriching environment that reflects our greater Central Florida area. From a global perspective, a long-term goal of UCF is to become Latin America’s destination of choice for co-innovation and co-development. Diversity makes UCF better and strengthens our competitive advantage.