FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

February 8, 2023

HACU statement on State of the Union address

SAN ANTONIO – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has released the following statement on President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address.

“HACU applauds President Biden and his administration's key accomplishments, including historic investments under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the passage of the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores.

President Biden's report on the state of the union highlights critical education priorities, such as reducing student loan debt, increasing Pell Grants, access to affordable education and career training, and increasing teacher pay.

“These education investments will prepare the U.S. to become the best-educated, best-prepared nation in the world. Making education an affordable ticket to the middle class also means supporting historic investments for the 559 Hispanic-Serving Institutions that collectively serve 5.5 million students across the country," added Flores. 

HSIs enroll 66.1% of Hispanic, 41.4% of Asian, 35.2% of Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, 23.8% of Black students, 21.1% of American Indian & Alaska Native, and 16.4% of non-Hispanic White students in the U.S. Additionally, while HSIs only account for 16% of all colleges and universities, they enroll 31% of Pell recipients.

HSIs are educating the future of America's labor workforce. HACU calls on the Biden Administration and Congressional leaders to support historic investments for HSIs to continue serving as critical pillars in our communities working to build a more robust and diverse competitive 21st Century workforce."

About HACU

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 in San Antonio, Texas, with regional offices in Washington, D.C and Sacramento, California.