(Hammond and Westville, IN) - Purdue University Northwest has earned official designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, which marks PNW, with campuses in Hammond and near Westville, as the largest HSI in the state of Indiana.

 

Upon completion of the assessment, the U.S. DOE designates colleges and universities as HSIs that have enrolled at least 25% of undergraduate full-time students who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.

 

Since the 2022-23 academic year, PNW has enrolled a full-time undergraduate student population that is over 25% Latino. Within that population, approximately 70% are first-generation students. PNW’s enrollment figures also show it serves the most Latino students among all Northwest Indiana higher education institutions, PNW officials said.

 

“Purdue University Northwest is tremendously proud to earn this designation and represent our metropolitan region and Indiana as the Purdue University system’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution,” said PNW Chancellor Kenneth C. Holford.

 

“It is central to our institutional mission and strategic plan to provide a high-quality academic and learning environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and supportive of all students and their backgrounds. We are excited for the continued progress of our Latino and first-generation students at PNW,” he said.

 

Higher education institutions designated as HSIs become eligible for several federal programs and grants intended to enhance academic, on-campus, and professional development opportunities for all students. In 2023, the Biden-Harris administration awarded more than $40 million to HSIs around the U.S. to expand educational opportunities and improve retention for Latino students, PNW officials said.