November 6, 2019

Chris de Hoyos

HACU represented during FUTURE Act Press Conference on Capitol Hill

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ Interim Chief Advocacy Officer Alicia Diaz was among the speakers at a press conference urging the Senate to pass Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act. The press conference was led by Senator Doug Jones (Ala.). Other senators joining Jones at the press conference were Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), Sen. Patty Murray (Wash.), Sen. Ben Cardin (Md.), Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), Sen. Chris Van Hollen (Md.), Sen. Robert Menendez (N.J.) and Sen. Jon Tester (Mont.).

The press conference also included speakers from organizations representing Hispanic-Serving Institutions, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and other Minority Serving Institutions. Besides Diaz, speakers included:
  • Aminta Breaux, Ph.D., president, Bowie State University
  • Jalen Hodges, student, Virginia Union University
  • Harry Williams, Ed.D., CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund
  • Patrese Atine, director of congressional/federal relations, American Indian Higher Education Consortium
  • Lezli Baskerville, J.D., president/CEO, National Association for Equality Opportunity in Higher Education
  • Lodriguez Murray, senior vice president, United Negro College Fund

For the past decade Title III, Part F of the Higher Education Act has played a vital role in enhancing the STEM pipeline at Hispanic-Serving Institutions and expanding institutional capacity at Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Predominantly Black Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions.

HSIs account for 15 percent of institutions of higher education yet produce 40 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees earned by Hispanic students. As the nation becomes increasingly diverse and the number of HSIs and emerging HSIs continues to grow, critical federal funding for these schools is more important than ever to ensure the preparation of today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs.

Take Action. Click here to urge your senators to pass the FUTURE Act.

Photo Caption: (Above) HACU Interim Chief Advocacy Officer Alicia Diaz. (Below) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks at press conference.


 





  

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, founded in 1986, represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. HACU is the only national association representing existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs). The Association’s headquarters are in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C. and Sacramento, California.

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