October 5, 2011

HSIs focus of daylong White House event

On Wednesday, Oct. 5, 2011 the White House convened a daylong summit on Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) to discuss the critical role they play in achieving President Obama's 2020 goal of making America the country with the highest percentage of its population with a college degree. Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), was joined by HSI Presidents and senior staff from across the nation at the event.

HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores with Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency duirng the "Winning the Future: Hispanic-Serving Institutions and President Obama's 2020 Goal" White House Summit.

The purpose of the gathering was to bring together senior Administration officials, HSI presidents and other HSI leaders, to generate new and innovative strategies HSIs can pursue to help the nation again be number one in the world in college degree attainment. 

During the daylong summit, participants had the opportunity to discuss the state of Hispanic higher education in the nation and the challenges this population faces in degree attainment. Obama Administration officials who attended the event included:

• Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency
• Dr. Eduardo Ochoa, Assistant Secretary of Postsecondary Education
• Roberto Rodriguez, Special Assistant to the President, White House Domestic Policy Council
• Francisco Carrillo, Deputy Director Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, Dept of Interior

During the day’s activities Flores participated on a special panel that addressed the ways HSIs can engage and collaborate with federal agencies.  Flores spoke on HACU’s partnerships with the federal sector through the Association’s Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with various agencies.