Nearly 50% of the 34 HSIs in NYS are CUNY Institutions
New York has the Fourth Largest Number of HSIs of any State
The City University of New York has the most Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in New York State according to a new report, A New York Briefing on 25 Years of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), issued today by Excelencia in Education and the University at Albany, part of the State University of New York. Sixteen of the 34 HSIs in New York State, are CUNY institutions — six community colleges, nine senior colleges and the CUNY Graduate Center — carrying the distinction of being degree-granting institutions of higher education with at least 25 percent Latinx students among their student population. Seven CUNY schools have at least 45 percent Hispanic students among their total student population.
“We are beyond proud that Excelencia has identified many of our colleges and programs in its report for promoting Latino retention, college access and degree completion,” said Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez, who will address educators, legislators and other policymakers today during a public briefing hosted by SUNY Albany. “With CUNY colleges leading most of Excelencia’s rankings in the state for most degrees and certificates awarded to Latinos and for highest enrollment figures — CUNY is the undisputed leader in New York for serving Latinos in higher education.”
CUNY schools dominated a number of categories highlighted in the Excelencia report. The University has the Top 5 colleges in New York State where Latinos earn degrees or certificates, with the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) leading the way, followed by John Jay College of Criminal Justice, LaGuardia Community College, Lehman College and Bronx Community College (BCC). CUNY also has the Top 5 in the state in terms of enrollment of Hispanics, with BMCC again at No. 1 followed by LaGuardia, Lehman, John Jay and BCC.
“BMCC is honored to be a part of this important celebration recognizing the contributions of Hispanic Serving Institutions. Serving Latinx students is central to advancing our mission of promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, and to our status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution,” said BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe, who will address the public briefing today. “Our effort of ensuring socioeconomic mobility for the Latinx community is vital to enhancing the fabric of New York state and our society.”
Strength in Numbers
CUNY colleges account for the greatest number of undergraduate Latino students enrolled in the state and have some of the highest percentages of Hispanic enrollment: Hostos (65%, 3,394 Hispanic students), BCC (64%, 5,122), Guttman (61%, 540) and Lehman (59%, 5,738). (Only Boricua College at 77%, which enrolls 491 Hispanic students, has a higher percentage).
CUNY also has the Top 5 institutions in the state for awarding bachelor degrees — John Jay, Lehman, Hunter College, The City College of New York and Baruch College — and the Top 3 for associate degrees earned by Latinos — BMCC, LaGuardia, and BCC.
And, CUNY had the Top 5 colleges for enrolling the most Hispanic graduate students in the state from 2018-19: Hunter, Lehman, CUNY Graduate Center, City College, and Queens College.
As part of CUNY’s commitment to support Latino students, CUNY has established several research institutes to advance the study of the culture, politics and histories of peoples of Latinx heritage. They include The Dominican Studies Institute at The City College of New York, The Center for Puerto Rican Studies (El Centro) at Hunter College, and CUNY’s Mexican Studies Institute, housed at Lehman College.
Onward, Upward
While last year marked the 25th anniversary of the first federal funding received by HSIs, this year’s report focuses on HSIs and emerging HSIs (eHSIs) in New York, and their ongoing mission to enroll and graduate more Latino students.
Less than 20 percent of undergraduate institutions of higher learning nationwide enroll more than 65 percent of the country’s Latino students, according to the report, which aims to show the great value of added investment in programs and institutions that have demonstrated successful outcomes for Latino students.
The 16 CUNY colleges among the 34 HSIs in New York State are:
- College of Staten Island
- Baruch College
- Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC)
- Bronx Community College
- The City College of New York
- CUNY Graduate Center
- Hostos Community College
- Hunter College
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice
- La Guardia Community College
- Lehman College
- NYC College of Technology
- Queens College
- Queensborough Community College
- York College
- Guttman Community College
CUNY also has three colleges on the list of eHSIs — Brooklyn College, Kingsborough Community College and Medgar Evers College — institutions that may soon meet the criteria to become an HSI.
The City University of New York is the nation’s largest urban public university, a transformative engine of social mobility that is a critical component of the lifeblood of New York City. Founded in 1847 as the nation’s first free public institution of higher education, CUNY today has seven community colleges, 11 senior colleges and seven graduate or professional institutions spread across New York City’s five boroughs, serving 500,000 students of all ages and awarding 55,000 degrees each year. CUNY’s mix of quality and affordability propels almost six times as many low-income students into the middle class and beyond as all the Ivy League colleges combined. More than 80 percent of the University’s graduates stay in New York, contributing to all aspects of the city’s economic, civic and cultural life and diversifying the city’s workforce in every sector. CUNY’s graduates and faculty have received many prestigious honors, including 13 Nobel Prizes and 26 MacArthur “Genius” Grants. The University’s historic mission continues to this day: provide a first-rate public education to all students, regardless of means or background.
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