HACU is Aiding Institutions Disabled by Katrina

San Antonio, TX - The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is committed to assisting in any way possible students, faculty, and others at institutions impacted by Hurricane Katrina. “The aftermath of this incredibly devastating storm is an enormous challenge for all Americans and for the world. HACU is seeking to collaborate with other sister associations and national organizations to offer support and facilitate coordination between its member colleges and universities and those most affected by Katrina,” HACU President Antonio Flores said.

HACU is conducting an e-survey to ascertain which of its member institutions may be able to receive students or faculty, or both, from those unable to operate for the foreseeable future in the Gulf Coast region. A similar inquiry will be conducted with the latter institutions to determine their most pressing needs and requirements. This dual inventory will allow HACU to connect the appropriate contacts from both institutional groups as soon as possible, so that they can arrange directly student and faculty mobility logistics. This survey will attempt to document at the campus level the specific number of spaces available, the terms under which they can be offered, the financial aid and academic credit transferability and implications, and other related questions.

HACU is aware that other organizations and institutions have already launched their own efforts to assist sister institutions in the path of Katrina. For instance, Chancellor Charles Reed announced on September 1st that seven campuses in the California State University System have some spaces available in their fall classes on an in-state-resident fees and tuition basis, and under favorable payment and financial aid terms (see attached PDF file). We are confident that other institutions across the nation and beyond may be able to offer similar options through the HACU survey or other means.

“HACU’s family of 437 member colleges and universities, including more than 200 Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, is called to assist those sister institutions in dire need, whether in our membership or not, to insure that their learning communities are not irreversibly decimated while they rebuild their institutional capacity,” Flores added.

HACU is also working in consultation with the National Association for Equal Educational Opportunity (NAFEO) and the American Indian Higher Education Consortium (AIHEC) to better coordinate their joint support efforts for impacted institutions. HACU, NAFEO, and AIHEC have been collaborating since 1999 under their umbrella organization, the Alliance for Equity in Higher Education.

For additional information on this HACU initiative, please contact Donna Fiedler Arredondo, Executive Director of Member Services, at dfarredondo@hacu.net or (210)576-3220.