Hispanic Serving Institution Status

Welcome, Families!

Salem State is delighted to welcome and support students and families from many different backgrounds.

Student and Family Resources in Spanish and Portuguese

Seal of Excelencia in Education, 2026-2029, Intentionally Serving Latinos

Salem State is proud to be a Seal Certified Institution. We earned the Seal of Excelencia, a prestigious certification recognizing colleges and universities that have demonstrated a deep, institution-wide commitment to advancing Latino, and all students, success. This achievement reflects who we are as a university and is evidence that SSU has become more student-centered and data informed. As a Hispanic-Serving and Minority-Serving Institution, we have worked intentionally to better understand our students, remove barriers to their success and create pathways that help every student thrive. While we are proud to be one of the first institutions in Massachusetts to earn this distinction, we view the Seal not as a finish line, but as a milestone. Together, we will continue building a university where all students feel seen, supported and empowered to achieve their goals.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) play a vital role in student success, social mobility, and contribute significantly to economic growth in their communities. HSIs are defined in Title V of the Higher Education Act as not-for-profit institutions of higher learning with an undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. Institutions designated as HSIs serve students of all backgrounds and belong to the larger group of Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) given their diverse student enrollment.

Salem State is currently classified by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) as an HSI based on its student demographics since 2024-2025.

As a public institution, our HSI-MSI identity is connected to our mission to provide a high-quality, student-centered education that prepares a diverse community of learners to contribute responsibly and creatively to a global society and serve as a resource to advance the region's cultural, social and economic development. The HSI designation is a public affirmation that, in addressing the needs and expectations of all students, the institution has committed to intentionally including Hispanic or Latino students, post-traditional students, and students from various communities in its efforts.

A Note About Terminology

*We use the term “Hispanic” throughout this page because it reflects the official federal term for the designation we are pursuing. We realize, however, that the word “Hispanic” is not inclusive of all Latin American identities and experiences, nor does it account for the rich differences among them.

Throughout the university’s written materials, we use a variety of terms for different contexts, including Latino, Latina, Latine, Latinx, Afro-Latino, Afro-Latina, Afro-Latine, Afro-Latinx, and more specific references such as Dominican, Guatemalan and Puerto Rican. Part of becoming an HSI involves engaging in ongoing conversations about terminology and identity within our community. We look forward to continuing this dialogue.

A Focus on Servingness

Advancing the ability to serve all students well, and anticipating future needs in doing so, is a basic function of public higher education.

Salem State is proud of its diverse student population, 40 percent of which identify as students of color and over 50% identify as first-generation college students. Our focus on “servingness” means that we strive to ensure each student has the resources and support to explore their interests and passions, succeed academically, and grow as an individual.

By focusing on how to best support the needs of a growing Hispanic student population, Salem State will engage in best practices that support all students. Producing equitable outcomes while increasing overall degree attainment is the top policy and performance priority for Salem State’s governing body, the Massachusetts Board and Department of Higher Education.

“Equity is more than simply creating a level playing field; it requires a concerted and intentional effort to remove barriers and obstacles that hinder the success of students that heretofore did not have these advantages.” – Massachusetts Board of Higher Education