women in front of mural

A Federally Designated Hispanic-Serving Institution

Regis University is proud to be a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) under Title V of the Higher Education Act. Just over 10 percent of all colleges and universities in the U.S. – more than 570 – are HSIs.

The HSI designation represents the University’s progress in becoming a more diverse institution, representing the demographics of the larger community while also acknowledging the work required to become more inclusive in serving our students.

This designation provides Regis with opportunities to support initiatives that will shape a more accessible, inclusive, and culturally enhancing educational experience for Hispanic students, and in doing so will create a campus that honors and serves all students, no matter what their background is.

HSI designation, designed by national Hispanic leaders to reduce structural and historic inequities, denotes that a university’s student enrollment is more than 25 percent Hispanic – 28 percent of full-time undergraduate Regis students are Hispanic – and affirms this university’s commitment to serve, support and celebrate our diverse student body. HSIs enroll over two-thirds of all Hispanic undergraduates and 30.5 percent of all undergraduates in non-profit colleges. Hispanic enrollment in higher education is expected to exceed 4 million students by 2026, far surpassing the growth rate of any other racial-ethnic group by over 10 percent.

The University received the official designation in 2023 and is now developing comprehensive plans to enhance the individual and collective support of its students by embracing the many opportunities available as an HSI.

“Servingness” at Regis University

In Fall 2023 the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusive Excellence centered the Annual Academic Excellence Workshop around “Regis as a Hispanic Serving Institution: Leaning into Servingness”. In which talented and committed faculty and staff shared their passion and best practices for creating campus spaces where all of our students can reach their potential.

Video Links to Keynote and Workshop Presentations:

Introduction and Keynote

Workshop Presentations

"As a Jesuit university, we believe in our mission to serve our students. This designation brings forth immense possibilities to truly serve not only our Hispanic students but everyone as a whole … We want to continue cultivating a rich and culturally affirming campus"

Salvador Aceves, Ed.D.
President

Salvador Aceves
Nicki Gonzales

"I envision a future in which all students, no matter their ethnic/racial or socioeconomic background, would have the barriers to a college education and to a true sense of belonging removed. We have an incredible opportunity to do some great work with this new designation."

Nicki Gonzales, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion

a large group of students smiling in front of a colorful mural

Distinctive Excellence

Regis University, the only private Colorado university and one of 13 in the state with HSI designation, has been recognized for excellence in higher education as one of Colleges of Distinction | Equity & Inclusion | 2023-24the nation's 2023-2024 Colleges of Distinction in Equity and Inclusion.