https://doi.org/10.1177/1538192719836197 Journal of Hispanic Higher Education 1–17 © The Author(s) 2019 Article reuse guidelines: sagepub.com/journals-permissions DOI: 10.1177/1538192719836197 journals.sagepub.com/home/jhh Article Equity versus Excellence: Is the Pursuit of “Tier-1” Status Compatible With Social Justice? Sara DeTurk 1 and Felecia M. Briscoe 1 Abstract This study explored the social justice implications of the transition of a Hispanic- serving Institution (HSI) to a “Tier-1” institution. Interviews and demographic statistics describe a university that has increased its global reach, its enrollment of students of color, and the prestige of the Latinx-majority city in which it is located. Conversely, the institution is declining in its service to low-income students and the local community, and changing expectations for faculty and staff compromise the hiring and retention of marginalized groups such as women and people of color. Resumen Este estudio exploró implicaciones de justicia social en la transisión de una Institución de Servicio a Hispanos (HSI) a institución de “primer nivel.” Entrevistas y estadísticas demográficas describen una universidad que ha incrementado su alcance global, su inscripción de estudiantes de color, y el prestijio en la ciudad de población latina mayoritaria en la que está situada. Por otro lado, la institución ha disminuído su servicio a estudiantes de bajo ingreso, así como a la comunidad local, y su cambio de expectativas de profesores y empleados favorecen grupos privilegiados. Keywords Tier-1, equity, diversity, Hispanic-serving institution, case study, public higher education 1 The University of Texas at San Antonio, TX, USA Corresponding Author: Sara DeTurk, Professor, Department of Communication, The University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA. Email: sara.deturk@utsa.edu 836197JHH XX X 10.1177/1538192719836197Journal of Hispanic Higher EducationDeTurk and Briscoe research-article 2019