Final FY 2012 HSI Funding Announced

Member Advisory—December 16, 2011

After final attempts made by HACU, its membership and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSI), Congress finally reached an agreement on the FY 2012 funding levels for key programs. The so-called “Megabus bill” which included nine of the twelve yearly appropriations bills will be voted on sometime today (December 16) and is expected to be signed by the President. 

FY 2012 appropriations include $100.622 million for Title V Part A (Developing HSIs), a $3.7 million cut from FY 2011 levels, and $9.028 million for the discretionary part of Title V Part B (Developing Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans), down from $9.336 million. 

The HSI STEM and Articulation program will not be affected, since the funding for this program is mandatory under the health care and student aid reconciliation legislation.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Education Grants for HSIs Program will be funded at $9.2 for FY 2012.

The bill also includes some significant changes to the Pell grant program while preserving the $5500 maximum grant. A detailed update regarding Pell changes will be available in January.

According to Antonio R. Flores, HACU President & CEO, “We’re grateful for the HACU member presidents that responded to a call-for-action and sent letters in opposition to budget cuts for an HSI community that already is underfunded, and for the equally intense collaborative effort among the various MSI communities. Now begins the effort to make the case for the FY 2013 budget.”

For additional information about Title V funding and the changes to the Pell grant, contact via email Laura Maristany, HACU’s Executive Director of Legislative Affairs.