About the US Department of Education's Federal Designations

The U.S. Department of Education Federal Designations: 
Mt. SAC’s current designations marked with an * 

• AANAPISI: Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Program*: This program provides grants and related assistance to Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Asian Americans and Native American Pacific Islanders and low-income individuals.  

• HSI: Hispanic Serving Institution*: Aka Title V under the Higher Education Act of 1965: 25% or more annual enrollment of students as Latino/a/x to qualify. The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program provides grants to assist HSIs to expand educational opportunities for, and improve the attainment of, Hispanic students. These grants also enable HSIs to expand and enhance their academic offerings, program quality, and institutional stability. 

• MSI: Minority Serving Institution: Postsecondary institutions enrolling populations with significant percentages of undergraduate minority students 

• HBCU: Historically Black Colleges and Universities - not a Federal designation but programs exist for National HBCU Week including scholarships: HBCUs are a source of accomplishment and great pride for the African American community as well as the entire nation. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, defines an HBCU as: “…any historically black college or university that was established prior to 1964, whose principal mission was, and is, the education of black Americans, and that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting agency or association determined by the Secretary [of Education] to be a reliable authority as to the quality of training offered or is, according to such an agency or association, making reasonable progress toward accreditation.” HBCUs offer all students, regardless of race, an opportunity to develop their skills and talents. These institutions train young people who go on to serve domestically and internationally in the professions as entrepreneurs and in the public and private sectors. 

• PBU: Predominantly Black Institutions Program – US Department of Education 

• Tribal/Native American Serving Non-Tribal Institutions Program: This program provides grants and related assistance to Native American-serving, nontribal institutions to enable such institutions to improve and expand their capacity to serve Native Americans and low-income individuals.