The National Hispanic University (NHU) was established in 1981 in Oakland, California, to serve the needs of Hispanics and other underserved groups. As founding president and academic visionary for 22 years, Dr. B. Roberto Cruz believed that a small, private independent college could make a difference in the graduation rate of Hispanics and other minorities.
NHU’s mission was: To enable Hispanics, other minorities, women, and others to acquire an undergraduate degree or certificate using a multicultural educational experience to obtain a professional career in business, education, or technology.
In 1990, NHU began community outreach with Oakland's Upward Bound program for economically disadvantaged high school youths. The following year, they established the Educational Talent Search program in San Jose, California, for middle and high school students. In 1995, NHU moved to an 11-acre campus in East San Jose.
In 2002, NHU was accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission. The following year, Dr. David P. Lopez was named president of the university and later named Hispanic-Net Educator of the Year in 2005.
In 2009, NHU established the Early University Program, which introduced high school students to the college experience. After joining the Laureate International Universities network in 2010, it began to add online courses, concentrations, and degree programs in education and business.
Download a PDF of NHU's timeline here.
In March 2014, after a deliberative review process, the NHU Board of Directors determined that NHU would cease offering programs after 2015. The board announced a range of actions to ensure that the university's vision endures and that its students could successfully complete their studies.
In addition, the board put plans in place to ensure pathways to college completion for NHU students, including transfer agreements and financial assistance.
The NHU Board, the NHU Foundation, and Laureate Education understand the importance of the NHU campus. True to Dr. Cruz's vision, the NHU Foundation continues to use the campus to serve the educational needs of San Jose and the broader Hispanic community.
