HACU commends Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed increases in higher education funding for California

SACRAMENTO, CA - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) applauds California Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed plan to increase higher education funding in the state by $129.4 million, allowing the University of California and the California State University systems to avoid the scheduled fee increases for the 2006-2007 academic year.  The proposed plan was announced before the end of 2005 and featured in the Governor’s State of the State address.

Over the years, California’s students and their parents have struggled to keep up with the ever increasing cost of obtaining a college degree in the state.  This proposal would allow the over 100,000 Hispanic students in California’s public university system to continue their studies without having to take extra jobs or incur additional debt.

Furthermore, HACU applauds the Governor’s proposal to increase Cal Grant funding by almost $12 million – increasing the maximum size of the Cal Grant award available to those attending private colleges and universities.  This proposal would aid Hispanic students who choose to attend a private institution to make their academic dreams a reality.

“HACU urges the California Legislature to support the budget proposals increasing funding for higher education in the state – enabling many deserving students to attain their dream of a quality, affordable education,” said Antonio Flores, President and CEO of HACU.

Currently, HACU has over 97 members in the state of California and just opened a regional office in Sacramento to handle Hispanic higher education legislative and policy issues in the western region of the U.S.

HACU represents more than 400 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America and Spain.  Although its member institutions in the U. S. represent less than 10% of all higher education institutions nationwide, together they are home to more than three-fourths of all Hispanic college students. HACU is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs).

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