Serving underrepresented and low-income students is something that connects to the heart of Marquette’s mission as a Catholic, Jesuit institution. St. Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits, described schools as a contribution to what he called the "common good" of society at large. In their ministries, he wanted the Jesuits to minister to anybody in need, regardless of social status or socioeconomic class. 

Engaging and supporting our historically marginalized students directly reflects our Ignatian values: cura personalis, the Society of Jesus’ Universal Apostolic Preference to walk with the excluded, and a preferential option for the most vulnerable among us. Marquette’s Guiding Values also call us to nurture an inclusive, diverse community. 

While federal funding, programs and initiatives that support education for underrepresented students continue to evolve over time, one constant is Marquette’s commitment to keep a Marquette education accessible to all and to serve our entire population of students. 

Pursuit of the HSI federal designation (2016 to 2025)

As a mission-aligned effort, Marquette University announced in spring of 2016 that we would begin actively striving to become a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). This federal designation requires an undergraduate population that is at least 25% Hispanic, with at least half of those students qualifying as low-income. 

Five years later, then Provost Kimo Ah Yun publicly reaffirmed our commitment to this effort. As he noted in his letter to the campus community, “This endeavor is about making Marquette a more welcoming and inclusive space for all our diverse stakeholders. HSI speaks to the very heart of our values as a Catholic, Jesuit institution: to serve the traditionally underserved, to provide care for each of our students and to strive for inclusive excellence.”  

As demographic trends are shifting toward greater numbers of underrepresented minority students pursuing postsecondary education, Marquette believes that the HSI initiative is an important effort to pursue. Working to recruit, retain and graduate these and other underrepresented minority students is a key part of Marquette’s adaptive strategy in these changing headwinds of higher education. Moreover, students from all diverse backgrounds contribute to a thriving campus community in incalculable ways and position Marquette as a stronger institution.   

U.S. Department of Education ends its support for HSI 

On Sept. 10, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education ended its support of HSI programs, which includes all grant funding. As a result of this federal action, Marquette’s pursuit to qualify for HSI status has concluded. However, our commitment to our Catholic, Jesuit mission of supporting all our students — including those who identify as Hispanic or Latino/Latinx — remains steadfast. We will continue to focus on how best to support our undergraduate students who identify as Hispanic or Latino/Latinx.