Home > About > Equity & Inclusion > Hispanic Serving Institution

Hispanic Serving Institution

Helpful Links

Latino AllianceEnglish as a Second LanguageVersión en Español

What Is a Hispanic-Serving Institution?

A Hispanic-Serving Institution, or HSI, is a federal designation awarded to colleges and universities where at least 25% of full-time equivalent undergraduate students identify as Hispanic or Latino. This designation recognizes institutions that enroll significant numbers of Hispanic and Latino students and are positioned to strengthen educational opportunity, student success, and equity through intentional programs, services, and institutional practices.

 

course one image

Why HSI Status Matters

At Pikes Peak State College, becoming an HSI is both a milestone and a commitment. It reflects who we serve, how our community is growing, and our responsibility to create learning environments where Hispanic and Latino students, and all students, can thrive.

HSI status matters because it creates opportunities for Pikes Peak State College to more intentionally support student success and institutional transformation.

As an HSI, PPSC is eligible to pursue federal grants and other resources that can support initiatives focused on:
  • Student retention, completion, and transfer
  • Academic support and advising
  • Career-connected learning
  • Faculty and staff development
  • Culturally responsive teaching and student services
  • Community and family engagement
HSI designation also challenges us to ask a more profound question of not only how we enroll Hispanic and Latino students, but how we truly serve them.

For PPSC, this means continuing to listen, learn, improve, and invest in practices that promote equity, belonging, and achievement for all students.

 

PPSC’s HSI Milestone: Fall 2024

Pikes Peak State College proudly became a Hispanic-Serving Institution in Fall 2024.

This important milestone reflects the strength, growth, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino students, families, faculty, staff, alumni, and community partners across the Pikes Peak region.

Becoming an HSI is more than meeting an enrollment threshold. It is an opportunity to deepen our commitment to access, belonging, retention, completion, transfer, and career success for not only Hispanic and Latino students, but our entire student body and strengthening the student experience for the entire college community.

PPSC celebrates this designation as part of our broader mission to provide high-quality, accessible, and student-centered education for the communities we serve.
Student in Cap and Gown with Diploma
Student Speaking at Podium

Pikes Peak State College’s HSI designation reflects not only our student population, but also our commitment to serving the broader community.

As the demographics of Colorado and the Pikes Peak region continue to evolve, PPSC has an important role to play in expanding educational access, supporting workforce development, and strengthening pathways for Hispanic and Latino students and families.

At Pikes Peak State College, becoming an HSI is both a milestone and a commitment. It reflects who we serve, how our community is growing, and our responsibility to create learning environments where Hispanic and Latino students, and all students, can thrive.

As of 2026 27.3% of the student body at Pikes Peak State College is Hispanic identifying.

Through campus-wide engagement and community partnerships, PPSC is committed to building a college environment where Hispanic and Latino students are seen, supported, and celebrated.

As part of this commitment, on October 2, 2026 Pikes Peak State College will host the 3rd Annual Colorado HSI Summit, a statewide gathering focused on equity, connection, and student success. 

The theme of the summit is Seguimos Floreciendo: Advancing HSI Servingness through Best Practices and Innovation. The summit brings together leaders, educators, students, and partners from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and emerging HSIs across Colorado to share strategies, build relationships, and advance collective work in support of Hispanic and Latino student success.

Hosting the Colorado HSI Summit is an opportunity for PPSC to celebrate its HSI milestone, contribute to statewide collaboration, and continue learning from institutions and communities working to become truly Hispanic-serving.


Register for 2026 Summit

Pikes Peak State College is committed to creating an environment where Hispanic and Latino students feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to reach their academic, personal, and professional goals.
Our work includes strengthening student support through:
  • Inclusive and culturally responsive student services
  • Academic pathways that support degree, certificate, transfer, and workforce goalsAdvising and mentoring that help students navigate college successfully
  • Financial aid, scholarship, and affordability resources
  • Offering bilingual services
  • Student organizations, leadership opportunities, and campus engagement
  • Partnerships with families, schools, employers, and community organization
  • Faculty and staff development focused on equity-minded student success
PPSC recognizes that Hispanic and Latino students bring valuable cultural knowledge, languages, experiences, and leadership to our college. Our goal is to honor those strengths while removing barriers and expanding opportunities. 

Pikes Peak State College’s embarked on a mission to better serve the growing Latino/Hispanic community in the region with how to identify and earn the HSI designation in 2016. During Fall of 2021, Pikes Peak Community College announced its renewed commitment to HSI following disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic. Earning the HSI designation in Fall of 2024.  

With the designation, there was an initiative to create an HSI Task Force to support the institution in its cultural shift in maintaining and supporting HSI initiatives. It is to demonstrate our commitment to being a Hispanic-Serving Institution. 

The HSI Task Force at Pikes Peak State College brings together staff, faculty and campus leaders who are committed to supporting Hispanic and Latino Student success through collaboration, planning, and action. Its work helps guide institutional efforts to strengthen belonging, improve student outcomes and promote best practices across the college. 

If you are interested in the Task Force, contact David Lopez (PPSC HSI Coordinator)

Students are encouraged to connect with campus offices, programs, and support services that can help with enrollment, advising, financial aid, academic planning, transfer, career preparation, and student engagement.

Pikes Peak State College offers a variety of resources to support students throughout their educational journey.
For more information about PPSC’s Hispanic-Serving Institution work, please contact David Lopez (HSI Coordinator)
 

The Open Scholarship/ La Beca Abierta

The Open Scholarship funds PPSC students who face barriers to receiving financial aid or scholarships. Some of those barriers might be the inability to receive federal or state funding, lack of documentation, language, or registration in only English as a Second Language (ESL) courses.

Apply for this scholarship by submitting the Colorado Application for State Financial Aid (CASFA).

APPLY NOW

El Cinco De Mayo

El Cinco de Mayo's mission is to share the Hispanic culture with all citizens of the Colorado Springs community to foster and ensure cultural harmony. We strive to enlighten the community in the unique aspects of the Hispanic culture that benefit our community. To support education by providing scholarships to deserving Hispanic students in El Paso County.

APPLY NOW

Pikes Peak State College was honored to welcome Dolores Huerta to campus in October 2025. A nationally recognized labor leader, civil rights activist, and champion for educational equity, Huerta’s visit provided an important opportunity for the college community to reflect on the power of advocacy, community leadership, and collective action.

Her presence on campus reinforced the values at the heart of PPSC’s work as a Hispanic-Serving Institution: access, belonging, equity, and the recognition of the cultural wealth and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities. Huerta’s lifelong commitment to justice and opportunity served as an inspiration to students, faculty, staff, and community members alike.



Hosting Dolores Huerta was a meaningful moment in PPSC’s HSI journey and reflected the college’s ongoing commitment to creating spaces where history, leadership, and student empowerment are celebrated.
Joe Aldaz
6050 Stetson Hills Blvd #439
Colorado Springs, CO 80922
719-231-5353
info@cshispanicchamber.comcshispanicchamber.com
Learn More
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
18618 Tuscany Stone
Suite 240
San Antonio, Texas 78258
210-692-3805 (Main)
Learn More