The University of Nevada, Reno is one of three colleges along with Great Basin College and Desert Research Institute, left in Nevada without a Minority-Serving Institution (MSI) designation. These federal designations from the U.S. Department of Education are awarded to educational institutions that enroll students of a particular racial or ethnic group. Among the designations are Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities and more. The University of Nevada, Reno is aiming to be designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution.