FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 13, 2006

HACU’s 2006 Capitol Forum in Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C. - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) will propose record new investments in the higher education success of the nation’s largest minority population at HACU’s 11^th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education March 26-28 at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C.

“Our nation’s economic success and security depend on advanced skills and knowledge.  We can’t afford to neglect a population that accounts for one of every three new workers in the U.S. today and that also comprises the fastest-growing segment of our school-age population,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

As the only national higher education forum for Hispanics and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), HACU’s Capitol Forum will bring together leaders of HACU’s 450 member colleges and universities  with representatives of Congress, the White House and key federal agencies to promote Hispanic college and career success.

Capitol Forum sessions will feature educators and public policy makers addressing issues ranging from new demographic and minority education trends to current national policy developments.  Newly appointed Cabinet members are among the invited speakers.  A closing reception will honor members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Congressional Hispanic Conference, the Senate Hispanic-Serving Institutions Coalition and other supporters of HACU and Hispanic higher education.

A key “grass roots” component to HACU’s Capitol Forums is a day of visits to Capitol Hill, during which presidents and chancellors from HACU member colleges and universities will meet with House and Senate members about Hispanic education and workforce training needs.

HACU will also present its formal 2006 Legislative Agenda for federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 during the Capitol Forum, including its Public Policy Priorities for the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which will determine federal spending for all higher education for the next five years.

The rapid growth of the nation’s Hispanic population is reflected in the corresponding rise in the number of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), where Hispanic students make up 25 percent or more of the enrollment.  This growth is also reflected in HACU’s membership, which now includes colleges and universities in 33 states and Puerto Rico, in addition to an international membership in seven Latin American countries and Spain.  “Three of every four of the country’s 1.6 million Hispanic college students attend a HACU-member institution.  HACU-member campuses enroll more than 4.6 million students across the nation, which also makes HACU the voice of nearly one-third of the nation’s students,” Flores said.

Although HSIs serve the largest concentrations of the Hispanic college-age population, HSIs continue to receive substantially less federal funding on average compared to all other degree-granting institutions.  This inequity is compounded by the additional fact that HSIs serve a population that is disproportionately low-income and that suffers the lowest high school and college completion rates of any major population group.

“Current constraints on state funding and private-sector support for higher education in an uncertain economy have contributed to a tremendous crisis for our country’s already under-funded HSIs,” Flores said.  “Every one of us has a stake in providing our HSIs the support they must have to adequately prepare such a vital part of our future workforce and provide the next generation of leaders in business, research and education, and national defense.”

For more information, contact HACU’s national headquarters in San Antonio, Texas, at (210) 692-3805 or HACU’s Washington, D.C., office at (202) 833-8361. Visit www.hacu.net for a complete Capitol Forum Agenda and comprehensive reports on HACU’s Mission, Membership and Legislative Priorities.

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