"By Antonio R. Flores
President and CEO
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- HACU is seeking support from Congress and the White House for record new federal funds for Hispanic higher education in federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2003. Hispanics remain the youngest and fastest-growing population group. This investment in the advanced education of such a large part of our future workforce and leadership ranks is critical to our future economic success and to our national security.
With Congress and the White House already proposing new budgets for the next fiscal year, HACU is recommending a $125-million appropriation to the nation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in FY 2003 under Title V of the Higher Education Act. These more than 200 HSIs serve the largest concentrations of Hispanic college students in every major state and Puerto Rico, and the overwhelming majority of the 1.5 million Hispanic students in American higher education.
Yet, the White House has proposed only a token increase in funding for HSIs from $86 million in FY 2002 to $89 million in FY 2003. The White House proposal falls far too short of meeting the practical needs of our HSIs, which receive substantially fewer federal dollars per student on average than any other group of degree-granting institutions. HACU is calling on Congress and the country to join us in support of an urgently needed, more substantial investment in the higher education needs of our nation’s largest ethnic population.
HACU already is enlisting the support and advocacy of all presidents and chancellors of our 319 member higher education institutions. These colleges and universities collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students. These institutions also serve the pre-collegiate and adult workforce training needs of the larger communities in which they are located.
Title V of the Higher Education Act remains the chief vehicle through which federal funds can be targeted to HSIs. With the dual challenges of rapidly rising college costs and the dramatic growth of the Hispanic college-age population, the White House proposal for a mere $3 million increase in federal funding to these HSIs is, in practical terms, essentially no increase.
We will continue to look to the leadership of our higher education allies in Congress, who were so successful in 2001 in their efforts to win support for the $86 million Title V appropriation for FY 2002. Both Houses of Congress and the White House had proposed lesser amounts, but HACU’s Congressional allies ultimately prevailed.
HACU applauded their success and their continuing support for Hispanic higher education at a special reception on January 31, 2002 honoring members and representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Senate HSI Coalition and other “HACU Congressional Champions.”
Congress this year will address both the coming year’s budget and also the pending Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. This reauthorization process, which is expected to produce new proposals and policies from discussions and debates now under way, contains Title V and other sections that represent familiar and new opportunities to substantially enhance funding for HSIs and other HACU members. Among the new opportunities would be a pending proposal to provide critically needed new support to enhance graduate education programs at HSIs.
On a different and happy note, HACU welcomes a long-time ally and leader in Hispanic higher education to the HACU family. John Moder, a veteran educator and former president of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, became HACU’s new Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective February 1.
Dr. Moder brings to us impeccable credentials, extensive management experience in higher education, excellent leadership skills and a solid commitment to HACU's mission and strategic goals.
As a former Chair of the HACU Governing Board from 1997 until 1998, and a member of the HACU Governing Board from 1993 until 1999, Moder played a critical role in the rapid growth and success of HACU during the 1990s. As president of HACU member St. Mary’s University from 1988 until 1999, he led the private university to record enrollment growth and national prestige.
We will welcome Dr. Moder’s experience and vision at HACU’s National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education: Strategies for Success, which will convene leaders of HACU-member institutions, allies, and members of Congress on April 14-16 at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., to discuss federal funding priorities for Hispanic higher education. Join us at this national forum, and help us advocate for a better future for Hispanic Americans and for all Americans. "
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- HACU is seeking support from Congress and the White House for record new federal funds for Hispanic higher education in federal Fiscal Year (FY) 2003. Hispanics remain the youngest and fastest-growing population group. This investment in the advanced education of such a large part of our future workforce and leadership ranks is critical to our future economic success and to our national security.
With Congress and the White House already proposing new budgets for the next fiscal year, HACU is recommending a $125-million appropriation to the nation’s Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) in FY 2003 under Title V of the Higher Education Act. These more than 200 HSIs serve the largest concentrations of Hispanic college students in every major state and Puerto Rico, and the overwhelming majority of the 1.5 million Hispanic students in American higher education.
Yet, the White House has proposed only a token increase in funding for HSIs from $86 million in FY 2002 to $89 million in FY 2003. The White House proposal falls far too short of meeting the practical needs of our HSIs, which receive substantially fewer federal dollars per student on average than any other group of degree-granting institutions. HACU is calling on Congress and the country to join us in support of an urgently needed, more substantial investment in the higher education needs of our nation’s largest ethnic population.
HACU already is enlisting the support and advocacy of all presidents and chancellors of our 319 member higher education institutions. These colleges and universities collectively serve more than two-thirds of all Hispanic higher education students. These institutions also serve the pre-collegiate and adult workforce training needs of the larger communities in which they are located.
Title V of the Higher Education Act remains the chief vehicle through which federal funds can be targeted to HSIs. With the dual challenges of rapidly rising college costs and the dramatic growth of the Hispanic college-age population, the White House proposal for a mere $3 million increase in federal funding to these HSIs is, in practical terms, essentially no increase.
We will continue to look to the leadership of our higher education allies in Congress, who were so successful in 2001 in their efforts to win support for the $86 million Title V appropriation for FY 2002. Both Houses of Congress and the White House had proposed lesser amounts, but HACU’s Congressional allies ultimately prevailed.
HACU applauded their success and their continuing support for Hispanic higher education at a special reception on January 31, 2002 honoring members and representatives of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, the Senate HSI Coalition and other “HACU Congressional Champions.”
Congress this year will address both the coming year’s budget and also the pending Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. This reauthorization process, which is expected to produce new proposals and policies from discussions and debates now under way, contains Title V and other sections that represent familiar and new opportunities to substantially enhance funding for HSIs and other HACU members. Among the new opportunities would be a pending proposal to provide critically needed new support to enhance graduate education programs at HSIs.
On a different and happy note, HACU welcomes a long-time ally and leader in Hispanic higher education to the HACU family. John Moder, a veteran educator and former president of St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, became HACU’s new Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective February 1.
Dr. Moder brings to us impeccable credentials, extensive management experience in higher education, excellent leadership skills and a solid commitment to HACU's mission and strategic goals.
As a former Chair of the HACU Governing Board from 1997 until 1998, and a member of the HACU Governing Board from 1993 until 1999, Moder played a critical role in the rapid growth and success of HACU during the 1990s. As president of HACU member St. Mary’s University from 1988 until 1999, he led the private university to record enrollment growth and national prestige.
We will welcome Dr. Moder’s experience and vision at HACU’s National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education: Strategies for Success, which will convene leaders of HACU-member institutions, allies, and members of Congress on April 14-16 at the Washington Marriott Hotel in Washington, D.C., to discuss federal funding priorities for Hispanic higher education. Join us at this national forum, and help us advocate for a better future for Hispanic Americans and for all Americans. "