At Felician University, our mission is to provide an exceptional education to students at any stage of life. As a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) with over half of our students coming from underrepresented communities, Felician proudly fosters an environment where Hispanic/Latino students are encouraged to experience meaningful opportunities for personal and academic growth, setting them up for long-term success both within the classroom and in their future careers.
The latest data from Excelencia in Education shows that out of 3,400 degree-granting institutions nationwide, 602 have been recognized as HSIs. Notably, New Jersey is home to 23 of these institutions, with Felician University standing out as a leader in the advancement of Hispanic student success.
Recognition That Reflects Our Mission
This fall, Felician was one of 25 higher education institutions selected by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) for the second cohort of the VOLARE (Visioning, Organizing, Leading, and Advancing the Research Enterprise) Institute, a program designed to enhance STEM participation and research initiatives for our students and faculty. Through this year-long initiative, Felician will be challenged to refine its current approach to methodology and hands-on learning, enabling us to enhance our research capabilities and competitiveness for securing grants and funding.
At the same time, Felician was recognized by Washington Monthly’s Top 100 Best Hispanic Serving Colleges in America (#30) for its commitment to social mobility and service to the Hispanic student population. Achievements like these leave a lasting impact on our student body, inspiring first-generation students to see their culture and community reflected in their path to success.
Partnerships That Create Pathways
Felician has been a proud partner of Goya Foods for three years, offering convenient, on-demand courses for their nationwide base of employees. Led by retired senior executives, faculty, and industry leaders, employees can actively engage in professional development courses to strengthen their conflict resolution and innovation skills, which provides them with the tools and confidence needed to navigate these challenges as they pursue future managerial roles. This collaborative effort allows us to redefine the value of educational training, reinforcing the fact that learning is not confined to a classroom, but rather brought to life through workshops and seminars directly within the communities we serve.
Last year, President Mildred A. Mihlon announced her affiliation with Excelencia in Education’s national network of Presidents for Latino Student Success (P4LSS). This network supports institutional leaders with a desire to amplify the skills and talents of Latino college students, demonstrating a collective sense of commitment to higher education and academics throughout the country. Working with Excelencia and other postsecondary leaders has enhanced Felician’s efforts to solidify new connections with other institutions and acquire new academic planning tools, reinforcing our goal to be more intentional with the resources we provide for our students. This partnership is one that Felician intends to foster and grow, to better serve our current and new students. Last Spring, Felician featured Excelencia Co-founder and President, Sarita E. Brown, as a Commencement speaker and awarded her an honorary degree at the May 2025 Graduation Ceremonies.
Student Support Through Title V DHSI Funding
In 2013, Felician secured a five-year $3 million Title V Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Program (DHSI) grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Notably, Title V grants are often difficult to obtain due to limited funding and heightened competition. Cognizant of this competitiveness, Felician set its sights on reshaping the current landscape of higher education opportunities, seeking new ways to innovate academic and social programming for minority students.
A major outcome of this grant is the creation of FALCONS Connect (Felician Advising, Learning, Communication, On-Boarding, Navigating, Supporting), a program designed to strengthen the academic and personal success of Hispanic students. Through FALCONS Connect, students benefit from college-readiness support offered in Summer Bridge, as well as peer mentorship through the GRIT Program (Goals, Resiliency, Integrity, and Tenacity) during academic challenges.
Recently, Felician has been measuring the effects of the Department of Education’s significant $350M cut to Title V. This grant is commonly misconceived as “optional support,” but should be seen as a critical business necessity to sustain enrollment numbers and compliance accreditation, in addition to protecting the financial stability of our students, faculty, and staff alike. With over one-third of our students identifying as Hispanic/Latino, we aim to continue fostering their visibility, as their success is essential to who we are as a university and as a community. For context, Latino students drove 80% of recent U.S. degree growth (Excelencia); only 30% of Latino adults in NJ hold a degree, compared to 55% of White adults.
Loss of Title V funding and other grants is a collective blow to social mobility and affordable education for Latino students. This decision does not just impact the student population but also impacts the state of New Jersey and the advancement of its economic and educational sectors. In fact, Latinos equate to 33% of K-12 students and 21.6% of the labor force, powering $97B in GDP and 120,000+ businesses.
Campus and Community Engagement
During Hispanic Heritage Month, our Felician community hosts various activities commemorating the influence and achievements of recognized Hispanic leaders and influencers. Through a month-long calendar of events led by our Student Development and Engagement team, students will have the opportunity to attend salsa dancing lessons, cooking classes, movie nights, Latin music showcases, and informative sessions with recognized Hispanic businesspeople and community leaders right on campus. This year, Gian Paul Gonzalez, a Cuban American behind the 2012 Super Bowl Giants, Founder of Hope + Future, and an inspiring motivational speaker, will close Hispanic Heritage month on October 15 with a keynote presentation.
Felician believes that awareness and understanding are cultivated through immersion, which enables us to honor and celebrate the cultures and backgrounds of our students and extended community. Holding space for these celebrations fosters a respectful and inclusive environment that inspires our community to take pride in their identities and find strength in the shared experiences of their peers.
Looking Ahead: Moving Felician Forward
At Felician University, we are moving forward with purpose, even in the face of the ongoing challenges that many of our nation’s universities are facing today. Challenges like these will continue to serve as a call to action, encouraging us to fiercely support the next generation of innovators, professionals, and changemakers. Felician’s plans include advancing academic innovation and offering future-focused industry-aligned programs that prepare learners at every stage – undergraduate, graduate and continuing education – so they can have meaningful careers and make lasting contributions to their communities and the global workforce. We will empower our students through an inclusive campus culture and community that centers around well-being, leadership, and personal growth. Felician’s values will continue to drive our mission, ensuring that respect, human dignity, and inclusivity guide how we teach, serve, and lead.
About the author
Kristen Bombel serves as the Communications Coordinator at Felician University.
