Last week, the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) hosted its Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education. According to HACU, the event drew more than 300 higher education leaders and student advocates. Attendees reportedly took part in over 100 virtual meetings with the Congressional Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) caucus.
Set up in 2017, the caucus aims to educate members of Congress about the value and impact of these institutions nationwide. Recent data from the education department shows there are more than 500 HSIs in 25 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.
An HSI is defined in federal law as an accredited, degree-granting, public or private nonprofit institution of higher education with 25% or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time equivalent student enrollment
In his welcome address, HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores spoke about the resilience of HSIs during the pandemic. Dr. Flores also highlighted the importance of awareness and support of HSIs and the legislative and appropriations priorities for HACU.
The top priorities include equitable funding for HSIs, the Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment (HERE) Act, which addresses achievement gaps among Hispanic students, capital financing, and the Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act known as the DREAM Act.
U.S. Education secretary Miguel Cardona also spoke at HACU’s 26th Capitol Forum. Click here to read more.
Before the event, HACU said it met with government agencies and departments for guidance on federal investments and grants.
HACU also made mention of its partnership with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) All of US research program, an NIH-led effort to gather health data from one million or more people in the United States to accelerate research that may improve health.
Sponsors of this year’s Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education include Educational Testing Service, the nonprofit educational testing and assessment organization, and Southwest Airlines.
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