¡Felices Quince, Dominican!

In 2026, Dominican University celebrates a very special quinceañera: 15 years as a federally designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)!

Since receiving this designation in 2011, Dominican has continued a tradition of opening doors, creating opportunities, and honoring the communities that shape our university.

BUT WHAT DOES HISPANIC-SERVING ACTUALLY MEAN?

• HISPANIC generally describes people whose heritage connects to Spanish-speaking countries or cultures.

   

• LATINO/A refers to people with roots in Latin America, including countries where Spanish is not the primary language.

   

• CHICANO/A is a cultural identity associated with Mexican Americans, often reflecting a particular history of community, identity, and advocacy.

These identities overlap, but they are NOT interchangeable. Each carries its own histories, traditions, languages, and lived experiences. An HSI is a federally recognized college or university where at least 25% of undergraduate enrollment is Hispanic.

Today, approximately 69% of Dominican’s undergraduate students identify as Hispanic, and more than half are first-generation college students.

But numbers alone do not tell the whole story. Being Hispanic-enrolling is a designation. Being Hispanic-serving is a responsibility. DU and its faculty and staff aim to create classrooms where cultural experiences are valued, building pathways toward professional opportunity, honoring families and communities, and ensuring students are not simply welcomed but empowered to thrive.

WHAT IS A QUINCEAÑERA?

A quinceañera traditionally celebrates a young person’s growth, identity, and entrance into a new chapter of responsibility.What a fitting moment for Dominican to reflect on how far we have come—and imagine who we are becoming.