The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) applauds the Obama Administration’s FY 2011 budget for recommending funding increases for Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) programs in the U.S. Department of Education and U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the first ever appropriations request for Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities.

The President’s FY 2011 budget includes $123 million for Title V, Developing HSIs program, and $22 million for Title V Part B, Developing Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans, an increase of $6 million for the undergraduate and of $10.5 million for the graduate program over this year’s appropriation.

The President’s budget also includes first-time funding at $10 million for the Endowment Fund program for the newly designated Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities. This new funding is in addition to the $9.2 million for continued funding of the Title VII Agriculture HSI Education Grants Program.

“The increased funding request for Title V Part A and Part B, and for Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities represents a victory for HSIs. We will work closely with Congress to ensure approval of the amounts included in the President’s budget for FY 2011,” said Antonio R. Flores, President and CEO of HACU.

“Although we are grateful for the President’s requested enhancements for HSIs, funding for other important programs still needs to be initiated or strengthened. HACU will seek additional funding from Congress for these programs.  We are mindful that HSIs lag behind the higher education community when it comes to federal funding, as they only receive 52 cents for every dollar that all other institutions receive on average from all federal sources per student,” said Flores.“We need to close this gap for the good of the nation,” Flores added.

The White House budget holds funding for the HUD University Partnership Program for HSIs at FY 2010 levels.

HACU has begun working on appropriations requests as Congress will now take up FY 2011 spending bills. Please contact the HACU government relations office for additional information.

U.S. Department of Education:

·Title V - Developing HSIs: $123 million

·Title V Part B - Promoting Post-baccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans: $22 million

 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development:

·HUD University Partnership Programs: $25 million

 U.S. Department of Agriculture:

·Education Grants Program for HSIs: $9.237 million