HACU Member Advisory—April 14, 2005

HACU praises Committee’s approval of MSI technology bill in the Senate

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) applauds the approval by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee of S. 432, the Minority-Serving Institution Digital & Wireless Network Technology Opportunity Act of 2005. The bill was reintroduced in the 109th Congress by Senator George Allen of Virginia this past February.

HACU is calling for swift passage of this bill by the entire Senate. S. 432 would provide grants for new technology equipment and infrastructure expansion, as well as new faculty development, classroom technology, training, technology partnership and technology education leadership development opportunities for eligible Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and other Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs).

“The rapidly changing global economy and national security priorities require the elimination of the ‘digital divide’ in our country, particularly on college campuses,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.  “Senator Allen’s bill is critically needed to provide federal assistance to HSIs and other Minority-Serving Institutions, so that they may be able to strengthen their information-technology infrastructure and institutional capacity and prepare an increasingly diverse workforce for the technology demands of the present and future.”

Senator Allen had introduced a similar measure in the 108^th Congress which passed the Senate 97-0, but stalled in the House.  HACU expects this bill to pass unanimously in the Senate once again.

HACU Member Advisories are a service

of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.