Saint Peter's celebrates 25 years as a Hispanic Serving Institution

Saint Peter’s University in Jersey City celebrated the institution’s 25th anniversary as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), a designation given by the U.S. Department of Education to accredited public or private nonprofit institutions of higher education where Hispanic or Latino/a/x students compose 25 percent or more of full-time undergraduate enrollment.

The anniversary marks a significant milestone in the Jesuit University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and excellence in education. Celebrations to honor the milestone were held during National HSI Week, which is observed this year Sept. 11-15 at the start of Hispanic Heritage Month.

“Notably, Saint Peter’s is the only HSI within the Archdiocese of Newark, and the only Catholic-affiliated HSI in the entire state of New Jersey,” said 2002 Saint Peter’s graduate and General Counsel for Archdiocese of Newark Steven Llanes.

In 1998, Saint Peter’s was the first to attain HSI status among private colleges and universities in New Jersey and the first among all of the 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Today 47 percent of the full-time undergraduate population of Saint Peter’s is Hispanic, hailing from 13 Latin American countries.

A HSI Anniversary Task Force comprised of faculty, students, administrators, staff, and alumni was charged with identifying opportunities to showcase the historical and cultural significance of HSI status, recognize contributions of students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Hispanic heritage, enhance pride and promote the University as a leading HSI.

“This milestone anniversary of Saint Peter’s becoming a HSI is more than a celebration of who we are and have been as a HSI,” said Jennifer Ayala, Ph.D., professor, director of Latin American and Latino Studies and co-chair of the HSI 25th Anniversary Task Force. “It is an opportunity to imagine what else we can do and be for this community.”

Llanes said since Jesuit education found its way to places like Jersey City in Hudson County, where immigrant families have long emigrated seeking a better life, it makes sense that generations of Hispanics—from those who recently arrived to those who are first-generation born in the United States like him—chose the institution that chose to serve students from that community, hungry for opportunity.

“Long before a Hispanic Serving Institution became a recognized designation, Saint Peter’s—rooted in the calling of a Spanish-born Jesuit, was doing just that. The ‘serving’ part of HSI is in our DNA—both for Saint Peter’s and for the driven students this institution is built to serve. Beyond ‘going forth and teaching,’ what is it about that education? The answer can be found, I believe, in the degree to which cura personalis, or care for the entire person, is so freely given and deeply felt at this institution,” said Llanes, who was recently elected chair of the Board of Regents at St.Peter’s.

Events celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month the university’s designation began with a Mass of the Holy Spirit with Spanish music and prayers, followed by a picnic with Latin food and a special HSI anniversary dessert on Sept. 13.

The next day, a storytelling event through Afro-Puerto Rican Folkloric dance featured Segunda Quimbaba and was followed by a mini-parade led by the student organization LASO.

On Sept. 17, a TRansformative EXperience (TREX) Celebration Brunch was held. The TREX Program provides opportunities for students in STEM majors to engage in paid internships that also count for academic credit. The program was established in 2018 with support from the National Science Foundation’s Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program. Since its inception TREX has placed more than 200 students in hands-on positions. This brunch brings together current students and alumni who participated in the TREX program, along with the grant team.

Additional programming and events will be held throughout the academic year that celebrate the distinctions and achievements Saint Peter’s has attained since achieving the HSI milestone. Some highlights include:

$17 million harnessed in federal HSI grants that advance technology, STEM programs, internships and experiential learning opportunities for Hispanic and low-income students.
Creation of affordability initiatives for community college graduates to attain bachelor’s degrees.