SAMPLE LETTER FOR YOUR USE HINOJOSA'S GRADUATE EDUCATION AMENDMENT

(Please feel free to individualize to your institution.)

July 15, 2005

Dear:

As president of __________ College/University and a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), I urge you to support the amendment that Representative Ruben Hinojosa will introduce next week that would insert a provision under Title V of the Higher Education Act for the creation and expansion of graduate education opportunities at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). 

He will introduce this provision as an amendment to HR 609, the “College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005,” as the House Education and Workforce Committee proceeds to mark up amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA).  Representative Hinojosa’s amendment will mirror HR 761 “The Next Generation of Hispanic-Serving Institutions,” which already has the express bi-partisan support of eighty-six Members of Congress.  

Representative Hinojosa’s amendment would remedy a major inequity in Hispanic higher education.  HSIs remain severely underfunded and have no targeted Federal support for graduate education.  This fact is reflected in the dismal Hispanic enrollment and graduation rates in masters (4%), professional (5%), and doctoral degrees (3%).  These numbers must be increased as close to parity with our fast-growing Hispanic population that today represents approximately 15 percent of our total national population.

As our information technology driven economy continues to grow and demand creative and innovative professionals, technicians, and leaders in increasingly larger numbers, the need for Hispanic graduate and professional education opportunities will also continue to grow.  Today, one of every three new workers joining the U.S. labor force is Hispanic; this proportion is projected to grow by 2020 to one of every two.  It is in the national interest to dramatically increase the Hispanic graduation rates in masters, professional, and doctoral degree programs to sustain our nation’s competitive edge in our global and creative economy.

Please reaffirm your longstanding support for the educational betterment of Hispanic Americans.  This amendment would not only redress an injurious Federal inequity, but will also address a crucial national imperative to afford a graduate and professional education to a major segment of the U.S. workforce.

Thank you for your consideration of HACU’s and my request.

Sincerely,