What are MSIs?
Minority Serving Institutions Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
Alaska Native-serving Institutions
What is an Alaska Native-Serving Institution? What is the purpose of the Alaska Native-Serving Institutions Program?
An Alaska Native-serving Institution is a postsecondary institution that receives federal discretionary funding to improve and expand its capacity to serve Alaska Native students. At these colleges and universities, undergraduate students who identify as Alaska Native make up at least 20 percent of total enrollment.
What are some examples of projects that Alaska Native-Serving Institutions have funded with program funds?
Such programs may include:
- Scientific or laboratory equipment
- Classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities renovation
- Faculty support, development and fellowships
- Curriculum development and academic instruction
- Library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials
- Strengthening funds and administrative management
- Use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services
- Education or counseling services
Where can I learn more about Alaska Native-Serving Institutions?
Information on eligibility, applying, resources and a list of current Alaska Native-serving Institutions can be found here.
ASIAN AMERICAN AND NATIVE AMERICAN PACIFIC ISLANDER-SERVING INSTITUTIONS
What is an AANAPISI? What is the purpose of the Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISI) Program?
An AANAPISI is an institution that receives federal discretionary funding to improve and expand its capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income students. At these colleges and universities, undergraduate students that identify as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander make up at least 10 percent of total enrollment.
What are some examples of projects that AANAPISIs have funded with program funds?
Funds may be used for activities including:
- Scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching
- Construction or renovation of instructional facilities
- Faculty development
- Purchase of educational materials
- Academic tutoring or counseling programs
- Funds and administrative management
- Joint use of facilities
- Endowment funds
- Distance learning academic instruction
- Teacher education
- Student support services
Where can I find more information about the AANAPISI program?
Information on eligibility, applying, guidelines and a list of current AANAPISIs can be found here.
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
What is an HBCU? What purpose do HBCUs play in higher education?
HBCUs are colleges and universities founded before 1964 and were originally intended to provide higher education to African American communities. There are 105 HBCUs in 20 states, District of Columbia & U.S. Virgin Islands. Though they represent less than 3 percent of all colleges and universities, they are responsible for awarding 17 percent of all degrees earned by Black undergraduates.
Who attends HBCUs today?
Although their enrollments are becoming more diverse, the vast majority of HBCUs continue to maintain predominantly Black student populations:
- Black students are more than 90 percent of the enrollments at 47 HBCUs.
- Black students are more than 75 percent of the enrollments at 80 HBCUs.
- Black students are in the minority at only seven HBCUs.
Source: http://hbcu-levers.blogspot.com/
Where can I find more information about HBCUs?
Information on federal support of HBCUs, a list of HBCUs and government agencies funding HBCUs can be found here.
HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS
What is an HSI? What is the purpose of the Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI) Program?
An HSI is an institution that receives federal discretionary funding to improve and expand its capacity to serve Hispanic and low-income students. At these colleges and universities, undergraduate students who identify as Hispanic make up at least 25 percent of total enrollment.
What are some examples of projects that HSIs have funded with program funds?
- Scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching
- Construction or renovation of instructional facilities
- Faculty development
- Purchase of educational materials
- Academic tutoring or counseling programs
- Funds and administrative management
- Joint use of facilities
- Endowment funds
- Distance learning academic instruction
- Teacher education
- Student support services
Where can I find more information about the HSI program?
Information on eligibility, applying, guidelines and a list of current HSIs can be found here.
Native American-serving Non-Tribal Institutions
What is a Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution? What is the purpose of the Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution?
A Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institution is a postsecondary institution that is not affiliated with American Indian and Native Alaskan tribes and receives federal discretionary funding to improve and expand its capacity to serve Native American students. At these colleges and universities, undergraduate students who identify as Native American make up at least 10 percent of total enrollment.
What are some examples of projects that Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions have funded with program funds?
Such programs may include:
- Scientific or laboratory equipment
- Classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities renovation
- Faculty support, development and fellowships
- Curriculum development and academic instruction
- Library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials
- Strengthening funds and administrative management
- Use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services
- Education or counseling services
Where can I learn more about Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions?
Information on eligibility, applying, resources and a list of current Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions can be found here.
Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions
What is an Native Hawaiian-Serving Institution? What is the purpose of the Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions Program?
A Native Hawaiian-serving Institution is a postsecondary institution that receives federal discretionary funding to improve and expand its capacity to serve Native Hawaiian students. At these colleges and universities, undergraduate students who identify as Native Hawaiian make up at least 10 percent of total enrollment.
What are some examples of projects that Native Hawaiian-Serving Institutions have funded with program funds?
Such programs may include:
- Scientific or laboratory equipment
- Classroom, library, laboratory, and other instructional facilities renovation
- Faculty support, development and fellowships
- Curriculum development and academic instruction
- Library books, periodicals, microfilm, and other educational materials
- Strengthening funds and administrative management
- Use of facilities such as laboratories and libraries
- Academic tutoring and counseling programs and student support services
- Education or counseling services
Where can I learn more about Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions?
Information on eligibility, applying, guidelines and a list of current Native Hawaiian-serving Institutions can be found here.
PREDOMINANTLY BLACK INSTITUTION
What is a Predominantly Black Institution (PBI)? What is the purpose of the PBI Program?
A Predominantly Black Institution is a postsecondary institution that receives discretionary funding to improve and expand its capacity to serve black students as well as low-income and first-generation college students. At these colleges and universities, undergraduate students who identify as Black make up at least 40% of total enrollment and students who identify as low-income and/or first-generation college students make up at least 40% of total enrollment.
What are some examples of projects that Predominantly Black Institutions have funded with program funds?
Such programs may include:
- College preparation and student persistence
- Financial ability of school
- Academic instruction in disciplines in which Black Americans are underrepresented.
- Teacher education program
- Community outreach programs
- Endowment fund
- Capacity to serve more low- and middle-income Black American students
Where can I learn more about Predominantly Black Institutions?
Information on eligibility, applying, guidelines and a list of current Predominantly Black Institutions can be found here.
TRIBAL COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY
What is a Tribal College or University (TCU)? What is the purpose of the Tribal Colleges and Universities program?
TCUs are colleges and universities associated with American Indian and Native Alaskan tribes. There are 32 fully accredited TCUs, and most are public institutions located in rural areas in the Midwest and Southwest. The federal government provides grants and related assistance to TCUs to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve American Indian and Native Alaskan students.
What role do TCUs play in tribal communities?
TCUs foster American Indian culture, languages and traditions by creating a strong community that promotes those values and serves a variety of people, from young adults to senior citizens, American Indians and non-American Indians. In addition to education, TCUs also serve as community resources for social services.
Where can I find more information about TCUs?
Information on eligibility, applying, resources and a list of current TCUs can be found here.
