For immediate release
Secretary of Education Rod Paige renews
commitment
To Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
“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
“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,”
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
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.