Keiser University Vice Chancellor Belinda Keiser was recently featured as a guest commentator by the Palm Beach Post newspaper. Keiser co-authored an article with David Armstrong, President of St. Thomas University, in which she discussed the importance of providing continued funding to colleges and universities that support Hispanic learners.

According to 2019 Census estimates, 26.4% of Floridians identify as Hispanic or Latino. Florida has the United States’ third-largest population of Hispanic residents with 5.7 million. And that population is growing fast, adding 1.4 million Hispanic residents from 2010 to 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keiser University is one of 21 colleges in Florida defined as a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education. Keiser, St. Thomas, and three other schools (Barry University, Hodges University, and Nova Southeastern University) are the only members of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida to be named Hispanic-Serving Institutions.

The designation is important as it signifies Keiser University, and Florida’s other Hispanic-Serving Institutions, are commitment to providing the best possible educational outcomes to Hispanic students. At Keiser, for example, 20 academic degrees are offered in Spanish including nine advanced and terminal degrees.

Historically, HSIs have been underfunded compared to other degree-granting institutions. According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS), HSI colleges and universities received $3,117 per student on average from all federal revenue sources in 2016-17, compared to $4,605 across all degree-granting institutions.

To read Keiser’s commentary in its entirety, visit: https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/opinion/columns/2021/04/23/florida-legislature-must-maintain-support-hispanic-serving-schools/7338229002/.

Keiser University is a private, not-for-profit university, serving nearly 20,000 students and employing 2,900 faculty and staff members. Co-founded in 1977 by Chancellor Arthur Keiser, Ph.D., and Evelyn Keiser, the university currently offers more than 100 degrees at 21 Florida campuses, as well as online and at two international sites. Keiser University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges as a level VI institution to award certificates and degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, masters, specialist, and doctoral levels.