HACU statement on President Biden’s plans to increase support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 17, 2024

HACU statement on President Biden's plans to increase support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions

SAN ANTONIO - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities commends President Biden and his staff on new actions to increase support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). Through a new Executive Order establishing the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence and Economic Opportunity through HSIs, the Executive Order will also create a President's Board of Advisors on Hispanic-Serving Institutions that will work to:

• Increase awareness of opportunities for HSIs to equally participate in Federal programs and enhance the capacity of HSIs to meet the educational needs of their students.
• Identify best practices for HSIs to scale effective strategies, programs, and initiatives to support the educational success and economic mobility of their students.
• Improve the ability of HSIs to align program offerings with the economic needs of the Nation and their local economies, especially in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and teaching.
• Coordinate efforts to help HSIs become or remain fiscally secure institutions.
• Foster cross-sector collaboration among HSIs and philanthropic, public, and private sector organizations.
• Strengthen Federal recruitment activities at HSIs to build accessible and equal pathways into Federal career opportunities for HSI students, faculty, staff, and alumni.
• Provide tools, data, and analytics to support HSIs in improving educational equity, excellence, and economic opportunity for students.

"HACU appreciates President Biden for issuing this executive order as a step in the right direction for establishing a standalone executive order for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, which HACU has advocated for with different administrations over the past 20 years. We are pleased the Biden Administration has moved in that direction with this renewed executive order. HSI colleges and universities serve the most diverse communities across our nation, educating more than 5.3 million students, including two of every three of the 3.6 million Hispanic students in college today who stand to benefit from this new development," said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. "Creating and supporting a Board of Advisors on HSIs is crucial to ensure the success of HSIs and the students they serve, and we hope that a standalone executive order for HSIs is issued soon to recognize their national importance. We look forward to working with the President and his staff on the appointment and launching of the President's Board of Advisors on HSIs to ensure the future workforce of our nation remains competitive in the global economy."

HACU has recommended the board be comprised of presidents/CEOs of HSIs and emerging HSIs, including the chair of HACU's governing board, staffed by the Office of the Secretary of Education and report to the Secretary and the director of the Domestic Policy Council. The board will also advise international education and outreach agencies to earmark funds and provide technical assistance for HSIs, enabling them to collaborate with institutions abroad, especially in Spanish-speaking countries, and promoting international education and facilitating academic, scientific, and cultural exchanges.

About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association's headquarters is in San Antonio, Texas, with offices in Washington, D.C.; Sacramento, California; and Chicago, Illinois.

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