Sixteen Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the state will form a Florida HSI Consortium to strengthen social mobility for the students they serve and accelerate progress in meeting Florida’s economic development goals.

These 16 institutions are federally recognized as Hispanic Serving Institutions by the U.S. Department of Education. The University of Central Florida (UCF) and Miami Dade College (MDC) are the lead institutions, both having been recertified with the Seal of Excelencia this year for supporting Latino students’ success through demonstrated alignment in data, practice and leadership. UCF will operate as the statewide headquarters with events rotating throughout the member institutions. The first consortium meeting is scheduled for Nov. 13.

“Hispanic Serving Institutions often reflect the makeup of our local communities, educating large numbers of Latino students and students from many other backgrounds,” says Cyndia Morales Muñiz ’13EdD, senior director for HSI Initiatives at UCF, and originator and co-founder of the consortium. “A collective approach with an intentional lens better positions each of our institutions to expand academic and career opportunities across the state.”

The Florida Hispanic Serving Institution (FL HSI) Consortium aims to promote community and collaboration among all federally recognized HSIs across Florida and to strengthen institutional capacity through professional development, the exchange of evidence-based and culturally relevant practices, and the pursuit of funding opportunities and other relevant partnerships. Through a “servingness” spirit, intentional strategies, and collective commitment, the FL HSI Consortium aspires to strengthen, scale and accelerate social mobility in the state.

The goals of the FL HSI Consortium include:

1. Promoting the role and impact of Florida HSIs in social mobility and state economic development goals;
2. Increasing collaboration with industry partners and nonprofit organizations in pursuit of federal and foundation funds for Florida HSI capacity building;
3. Strengthening student outcomes at Florida HSIs through shared opportunities for students;
4. Developing leadership at Florida HSIs through networking and professional development offerings; and
5. Generating knowledge on southeast HSIs to expand HSI scholarship.

“Current scholarship on HSIs is predominantly written from the perspective of Mexican American or Chicano higher education professionals on the west coast,” says Magda Castineyra, dean of The Honors College at Miami Dade College and co-founder of the FL HSI Consortium. “The idea to expand available scholarship to include more Caribbean perspectives on the East Coast, provides a unique opportunity for meaningful collaboration among our Florida institutions.”

The most recent 2022-23 data available at the state level illustrate that while HSIs represent about one-third of all institutions in Florida, they enrolled 50% of all students and 70% of Hispanic students in Florida. HSIs also graduated 50% of all students and 72% of Hispanic students in Florida. Emerging HSIs represent another third of institutions in Florida and enrolled 36% of all students and about 25% of Hispanic students in Florida.

Participating Florida HSIs are both public and private, two-year and four-year institutions across the state:

• Barry University
• Broward College
• Florida Atlantic University
• Florida International University
• Florida Southwestern State College
• Hillsborough Community College
• Indian River State College
• Keiser University
• Lake-Sumter State College
• Miami Dade College
• Polk State College
• Seminole State College of Florida
• St. Thomas University
• Tallahassee State College
• University of Central Florida
• Valencia College

Leadership and Steering Committee members include:

• Cyndia Morales Muñiz, originator and co-founder, senior director, Hispanic Serving Institution Initiatives, University of Central Florida
• Magda J. Castineyra, co-founder, dean, The Honors College, Miami Dade College
• Pablo Ortiz, provost, Barry University
• Calandra Stringer, vice president for academic affairs and provost, Tallahassee State College
• Larissa Baía, Ybor City campus president, Hillsborough Community College