March
30, 2004
For immediate release
Secretary of Education Rod Paige renews
commitment
To Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
WASHINGTON, D.C.
-- U.S.
Secretary of Education Rod Paige Tuesday renewed the commitment of the U.S.
Department of Education to expanding educational opportunities for Hispanic
students by signing a formal partnership agreement with the Hispanic Association
of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
“We must open the door to postsecondary education for more Hispanic students
and take steps to ensure that they have the skills, confidence and resources
to complete their studies,” Secretary Paige said.
“Today, I am pleased to sign an agreement that will strengthen our partnership
with HACU to fulfill our shared goal of increasing educational attainment for
Hispanic youngsters and preparing them for the demands of the 21st century,”
he said.
A formal signing ceremony took place following remarks by Secretary Paige
at a special session at HACU’s 2004 Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education
under way through Tuesday in Washington, D.C.
“This historic partnership promises to open new doors to academic
success for our country's youngest and largest ethnic population,” said HACU
President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.
“The presence of U.S. Secretary of Education Rod Paige at today's
signing of this new Memorandum of Understanding is a welcome sign of his leadership
and commitment to all of our diverse communities of learning,” Flores
said. “We applaud Secretary Paige for his support of our students.”
The formal Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is designed to coordinate
activities to increase employment and educational opportunities at the U.S.
Department of Education for students and educators of HACU member institutions,
and to target resources to strengthen the educational and research capacity
of HACU member institutions.
Initiatives
encouraged through the agreement include:
|
• |
Department internships for
Hispanic college students through the HACU National Internship Program; |
|
• |
Opportunities for representatives of Hispanic-Serving
Institutions (HSIs) to serve on Department advisory boards and commissions; |
|
• |
Employment opportunities for students,
graduates and faculty at HSIs; |
|
• |
Agreements
with HSIs to promote research in areas of mutual interest; |
|
• |
Special
programs, forums and workshops for increasing student achievement for Hispanic
postsecondary students; and, |
|
• |
Opportunities
for Department employees to work temporarily at HSIs and for faculty members
of HSIs to serve on a temporary basis at the Education Department. |
As part of the agreement, the Department and HACU will establish a joint
leadership group to coordinate partnership activities.
“Through the broad, bold reforms of No Child Left Behind, we are
closing the achievement gap for low-income and minority students so that all
of America’s
children will be prepared to go on to and succeed in postsecondary education,”
Secretary Paige said. “The agreement we sign today provides
additional support and commitment to improving the academic and professional
achievement of Hispanics in postsecondary education.”
HACU is a national, non-profit organization representing 360 colleges
and universities that collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic
higher education students.
The No Child Left Behind Act is the bipartisan landmark education reform
law designed to close the achievement gap, offering more flexibility, giving
parents more options and teaching students based on what works.
For more information about HACU, visit www.hacu.net.
Or contact HACU Media Relations at (619) 997-1637.
U.S.
Department of Education Contact: Jane Glickman (202) 401-1576
