December 19, 2019
HSIs represented on Capitol Hill for passage of FUTURE ACT
Hispanic-Serving Institutions were among those urging Congress to promptly pass the Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking Resources for Education (FUTURE) Act on Dec. 10, 2019, in Washington D.C. The bill passed by Congress on the same day and has been enacted into law.
Prior to the passage of the bill, a HACU delegation visited with Congressional offices. Among the participants were three HSIs that are also recipients of Title III, Part F grants, under the Higher Education Act. The delegates included two STEM majors that shared their experience on the importance of the funding.
HACU delegation, including NJCU students during a Capitol Hill visit in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 10, 2019.
John C. Grew, Ph.D., professor and chairman of biology represented New Jersey City University, along with Daniel Antunes, a senior biology major interested in research science and Martena Grace, a pre-medicine, pre-premedical studies major; both are from the NJCU’s class of 2020.
Other representatives joining HACU staff on the Capitol Hill visits, were: Lenore Rodicio, Ph.D., executive vice president & provost, Miami Dade College; Connie Beimer, interim vice president of alumni relations, University of New Mexico; and Alice Letteney, Ph.D., chancellor, University of New Mexico – Valencia.
HSIs currently confer 40 percent of STEM bachelor’s degrees earned by Hispanic students. “The funds are a 255 million dollar investment for the future of our Nation,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “This annual funding from the FUTURE Act will help community colleges and universities to prepare more students for STEM careers and help diversify our workforce, with 100 million dollars going to HSIs alone.”
Photo caption one: (L-R) John Aguilar, executive director of legislative affairs, HACU; Alicia Diaz, interim chief advocacy officer, HACU; Alice Letteney, chancellor, University of New Mexico, Valencia; Connie Beimer, interim vice president of alumni relations, University of New Mexico and HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.
Photo caption two: (L-R) Rachel Gentry, assistant director of federal relations, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators; Carrie L. Billy, president & CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium; Lenore Rodicio, Ph.D., executive vice president & provost, Miami Dade College; Daniel Antunes, student, New Jersey City University; and John Aguilar, executive director of legislative affairs, HACU