In recent years, many colleges and universities have been striving to become Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI), which requires at least 25% Hispanic enrollment. For years, Hispanic enrollment had lagged behind the percentage of Hispanic high school graduates, including in California.
At least before 2025, HSI status made universities eligible for various education grants.
In 2024, UC Davis proudly announced that its enrollment made it eligible to become an HSI. In outreach efforts to students and faculty candidates, units on the campus, including the School of Law, touted the emerging HSI recognition.
Joseph Morales for The Conversation writes about how the Trump administration’s challenges to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs has led to the Justice Department to “announce[] in July 2025 that it would no longer `defend‘ the federal definition of . . . HSIs.” The Department of Education later froze $350 million in education grants intended for “Minority-Serving Institutions“, including more than $250 million for HSIs.
What is the future of HSIs? With the end of race-conscious affirmative action and the attacks on HSIs, will the efforts end to improve the representation of Hispanics and other underrepresented groups at universities and law schools? Do we care?
