"WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Clinton's new call to reverse the shortage of Hispanics in the federal work force won praise and a pledge of support from the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU).
""We are confident that President Clinton's leadership will open new doors to federal career opportunities for the nation's fastest-growing minority group. We must have a government that is more reflective of and more responsive to our country's diverse population,"" HACU President Antonio Flores said.
President Clinton last week issued an Executive Order on Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government, calling upon every federal executive department and agency to increase Hispanic recruitment efforts. Hispanics, who within the next five years will become the nation's largest minority population, today make up only 6.4 percent of the federal civilian labor force.
""This Executive Order sends a powerful message to federal agencies to expand their internal efforts and reach out to non-federal organizations to increase the number of Hispanic candidates for federal jobs,"" Flores said. ""Our member colleges and universities, home to the largest concentrations of Hispanic higher education students, can play a key role in new partnerships and expanded efforts to eliminate this shortage.""
The HACU National Internship Program each year introduces hundreds of Hispanic college students to government career opportunities through paid internships at federal agency offices in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country. HACU also has formal partnerships and agreements with dozens of federal agencies that are designed to increase diversity in education, research, training and employment.
The Executive Order called on federal departments and agencies to ensure that managers and supervisors receive periodic training in diversity management, and to establish agency advisory councils that include Hispanic Employment Program Managers.
The Office of Personnel Management will provide federal human resources management policy guidance designed to directly address Hispanic employment issues. A new inter-agency task force will be formed within the next 60 days to provide annual progress reports and recommend additional actions.
HACU represents 270 colleges and universities with high Hispanic student enrollment rates in the United States and Puerto Rico. HACU also boasts a fast-growing international membership. "
""We are confident that President Clinton's leadership will open new doors to federal career opportunities for the nation's fastest-growing minority group. We must have a government that is more reflective of and more responsive to our country's diverse population,"" HACU President Antonio Flores said.
President Clinton last week issued an Executive Order on Hispanic Employment in the Federal Government, calling upon every federal executive department and agency to increase Hispanic recruitment efforts. Hispanics, who within the next five years will become the nation's largest minority population, today make up only 6.4 percent of the federal civilian labor force.
""This Executive Order sends a powerful message to federal agencies to expand their internal efforts and reach out to non-federal organizations to increase the number of Hispanic candidates for federal jobs,"" Flores said. ""Our member colleges and universities, home to the largest concentrations of Hispanic higher education students, can play a key role in new partnerships and expanded efforts to eliminate this shortage.""
The HACU National Internship Program each year introduces hundreds of Hispanic college students to government career opportunities through paid internships at federal agency offices in Washington, D.C., and throughout the country. HACU also has formal partnerships and agreements with dozens of federal agencies that are designed to increase diversity in education, research, training and employment.
The Executive Order called on federal departments and agencies to ensure that managers and supervisors receive periodic training in diversity management, and to establish agency advisory councils that include Hispanic Employment Program Managers.
The Office of Personnel Management will provide federal human resources management policy guidance designed to directly address Hispanic employment issues. A new inter-agency task force will be formed within the next 60 days to provide annual progress reports and recommend additional actions.
HACU represents 270 colleges and universities with high Hispanic student enrollment rates in the United States and Puerto Rico. HACU also boasts a fast-growing international membership. "