Reframing Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs): A Counterstory of a “Latinized” Institution in the Midwest

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to reframe the research and policy perspective on Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). Specifically, the authors answer the following question: What does a “Latinized” postsecondary institution look like? This report is based on qualitative interview data from a multi-site case study of three HSIs in the Midwest. Rather than looking at data that are typically used to determine an institution’s value and prestige (i.e., SAT/ACT scores, selectivity, graduation rates, persistence rates), here they use the participants’ stories in order to make sense of what it means, beyond White normative standards, to effectively serve Latinx students. The authors use a critical race counter story methodology to tell a story about HSIs from an assets-based perspective.