NJ Revilla-Garcia
December 5, 2011

Statement by Antonio R. Flores
President & CEO,
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
On New Guidelines to Promote Diversity at U.S. Colleges and Universities

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) applauds the Guidance on the Voluntary Use of Race to Achieve Diversity in Postsecondary Education issued jointly by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education. This document provides a fair and balanced approach to diversity and inclusion in higher education, particularly at selective institutions or programs. Its recommendations are grounded in relevant U.S. Supreme Court decisions that recognize the compelling interest of achieving diversity via narrowly tailored admissions programs that may consider race/ethnicity, not as a defining feature but as one of various factors regarded as appropriate.

HACU also commends this Guidance for recommending that selective colleges and universities establish articulation programs and partnerships with Minority-Serving Institutions as feeder colleges and universities. Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) enroll more than half of the 2.5 million Hispanic college students across the nation, but they also enroll numerous other minority students. HSIs would be an invaluable asset to diversify selective colleges and universities. A list of HSIs and emerging HSIs is available at www.hacu.net. Click here.