Program Office: Institutional Service

CFDA Number: 84.031S
Program Type: Discretionary/Competitive Grants
Also Known As: DHSI Program; Title Five; Title V, Part A
Program Contact: Njeri Clark
Telephone: 202-453-6224
E-mail: njeri.clark@ed.gov

Laws, Regulations, and Guidance

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program:

• Title V, Part A of the Higher Education Act, as amended (20 U.S.C. 1101-1101d; 1103-1103g)
• 34 CFR Part 606

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.

Applicant Information

Institutions must be designated as an eligible institution of higher education in order to apply for the Title V program and must meet the program-specific requirements to be defined as an HSI.

To be designated as an eligible institution of higher education, an institution must apply for and receive designation through an application process. Please refer to the most recent Application for Designation as an Eligible Institution. You may contact the program office if you have questions regarding eligibility.

Funds may be used for activities such as: scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching; construction or renovation of instructional facilities; faculty development; purchase of educational materials; academic tutoring or counseling programs; funds and administrative management; joint use of facilities; endowment funds; distance learning academic instruction; teacher education; and student support services.

NOTE: The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) amended Section 503(b) of the Higher Education Act to include among the authorized activities under the HSI Program: activities to improve student services, including innovative and customized instruction courses designed to retain students and move the students into core courses; articulation agreements and student support programs designed to facilitate the transfer of students from two-year to four-year institutions; and providing education, counseling services, and financial information designed to improve the financial and economic literacy of students and their families.

The HEOA also amended the authorized activities to use the term "distance education technologies" in place of "distance learning academic instruction capabilities."

Five-year individual development grants, five-year cooperative arrangement development grants, and one-year planning grants may be awarded.

NOTE: The Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program is NOT a scholarship or fellowship program for individuals or for research. The program is designed to support institutions of higher education that are HSIs.