The U.S. Department of Education classifies a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) as a non-profit institution that has at least a 25 percent Hispanic full-time equivalent enrollment. At least half of the Hispanic student population must also be low income. This is also known as Title V status. There are more than 200 American colleges and universities federally designated as HSIs, but only four mention this classification in their mission statements, says Dr. Victor B. Saenz. The education researcher, who examines the college student experience, noted the inconsistency at a recent higher education forum, saying that diversity and excellence in higher education are not mutually exclusive. The challenge is getting increasingly diverse institutions to welcome the new opportunities diversity offers. However, Saenz says the presidents of many emerging HSIs do not know how to launch an effective diversity effort. Dr. John Moder, chief operating officer of Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), says new HSIs have the opportunity to advance minority student outcomes that other schools won't address. Hispanic professors and faculty have the potential to improve the academic outcomes of Hispanic students and shrink the achievement gap, and should be a major part of any efforts to embrace HSI status.