Hispanic Serving Institution

Proud to be an HSI

Being a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution and Minority Serving Institution is a point of pride at Indiana University Northwest among our students, faculty and staff.

It's in our mission. It's who we are. And it's what we'll remain, a university committed to meeting the needs of our entire student body.

But long before becoming an HSI, we’ve sought to find the best ways to serve a diverse student population in Northwest Indiana and beyond. Our Hispanic identity has always been a part of who we are as an institution — a point of commitment, opportunity, and celebration.

Resources at IU Northwest

With funding received from the U.S. Department of Education in recent years, we've built infrastructure, redesigned curriculum, and enhanced local partnerships to help increase the number of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) graduates in the Region, designed programming for student success, retention, and professional development, and more.

We celebrate our Hispanic heritage year-round through cultural events and amplify the successes of our students and leaders on campus. And we’re always looking to adapt to the changing population on campus and committed to finding the next best way to help our students succeed.

2024 Commencement Statistics

26.7%graduates who identified as Hispanic/Latino

43.8%graduates who are underrepresented persons of color

42.5%graduates who are first-generation students

Focused on student success

in the classroom

IU Northwest used federal funds to establish the INVEST and TRIUNFOS initiatives to keep students engaged and successful throughout their academic journeys. Over the past three semesters, nearly 50 faculty members have participated in faculty development courses which resulted in lower DFW rates, higher grades, and reduced achievement gaps across all student populations.

Active learning = student success

through our leadership

Amy Diaz, chief of staff in the Office of the Chancellor at Indiana University Northwest, was selected by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) as a fellow for the fifth cohort of its Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo. The program, which focuses on HSIs, is designed to increase diverse representation in executive and senior-level positions in higher education through leadership development.

HACU Leadership Academy

and after graduation

Indiana University Northwest was recognized by Third Way as having the highest economic mobility index score — or strongest return on investment (ROI) — for students in Northwest Indiana. In fact, IU Northwest ranks in the top 20 percent of institutions nationwide with the strongest EMI, which considers if students can finance their education and receive a demonstrated ROI.

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Investing through HSI funds

With nearly $8 million received through the U.S. Department of Education in recent years as a federally designated HSI, we've invested in our students through our TRIUNFOS (Transforming IU Northwest for Opportunities in STEM) and INVEST (INspiring, Valuing, and Empowering Success Together) initiatives, respectively.

The STEM Center, which serves both IU Northwest and Ivy Tech students, located on the second floor of the Anderson Library on IU Northwest's campus.

Increasing STEM graduates

Thanks to a $5 million grant received from the U.S. Department of Education's Hispanic Serving Institution Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and Articulation Program, we've committed to increasing the number of Northwest Indiana students graduating with bachelor's degrees in STEM fields, with a focus on Hispanic and low-income students.

The STEM Center, which serves both IU Northwest and Ivy Tech students is a place for students to connect to internships, peer mentoring, and leadership opportunities to prepare them for academic and career success in STEM fields.

We've also invested in a curriculum redesign, which includes research experiences beginning as early as a students' first year of college through the STEM Summer Bridge and First-Year Experience class in scientific research.

Additionally, our campus has gained new and enhanced partnerships with the community, high schools, and employers.

Increasing graduation rates, fostering a sense of community

With a $3 million grant received from the U.S. Department of Education's Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program, we created the INVEST program with three primary goals in mind:

Student success interventions: Implementing programs, including summer courses, a financial literacy module, and career exploration, to support students who experience lower levels of student success.
Academic and student service investments: Developing active learning classrooms, creating a Student Success Center, and Office of Student Success to build a culture of success and assessment.
Professional development: Building faculty and staff excellence through professional development and resources to improve teaching and learning to optimize student outcomes.