Equitable Funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions
HACU requests that all funding levels be commensurate to the growth of HSIs and be appropriated fairly and equitably throughout all government programs across all federal agencies. HACU requests that funding for HSIs made through the U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Department of Commerce, NASA, and other departments or agencies that have programs benefiting Minority- Serving Institutions (MSIs) have dedicated funding for HSIs that educate and serve over 3 million Hispanic students nationwide.
Increase Authorization Levels for Title V, Part A and Title V, Part B
HACU urges Congress to increase the authorization levels for Title V, Part A and Title V, Part B of the Higher Education Act. Title V remains the topmost federal funding for HSIs. However, the number of HSIs has far outpaced the funding available for competition. Title V, Part A funds are critical to our institutions since they can be used to purchase laboratory equipment and construct instructional facilities, support faculty development, and provide academic tutoring/counseling programs and student support services, such as outreach, mentoring, and fellowships.
Title V, Part B funding expands postbaccalaureate academic offerings and enhances program quality in postsecondary institutions educating the majority of Hispanic college students and supporting large numbers of Hispanic and low-income students in completing their postsecondary degrees. Without funding that is commensurate to the growth of our HSIs, our institutions will continue to be severely underfunded and underserved, negatively impacting the education of our nation’s future workforce.
Reauthorization of the Farm Bill
With the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, HACU urges the U.S. Congress to equitably strengthen the capacity of HSIs and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) to implement higher education programs that attract, retain, and graduate students qualified to enter a competitive workforce in the nation’s food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences fields. HACU also proposes the creation of a new HSACUs Land Grant category of institutions in the reauthorized Farm Bill.
Immigration Reform
HACU supports the immediate passage of the Dream Act as a down payment on a Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill. The Dream Act provides a pathway to citizenship for the estimated 10.5-121 million undocumented immigrants in the United States.
Increasing the Pell Grant
HACU endorses the maximum Pell Grant award and requests that Congress double the Pell Grant to $13,000 to cover much-need auxiliary college expenses, such as tuition, books, internet, housing, and food. HSIs enroll 32.2% of all Pell recipients in the country, some of the most financially needy students. HACU also supports expanding federal student aid, including Pell Grant eligibility, to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) students.
Capital Financing Bill
HACU supports the establishment of an HSIs Capital Financing Program as part of the Higher Education Act (HEA) reauthorization. The goal of the program is to provide federally guaranteed loans at zero to nominal interest rates to finance infrastructure improvements for our nation’s HSIs. A recent GAO report highlights that 43% of HSIs’ building spaces require repairs or replacements, with an average deferred maintenance backlog of nearly $100 million. Furthermore, approximately 77% of HSIs have at least one project deferred due to health concerns. Yet, HSIs lack a federal capital financing program to provide affordable loans for these burgeoning and under-resourced institutions. This program would serve HSIs in the same manner as existing programs that rightfully provide capital outlay financing for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs).
Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment (HERE) Act
HACU supports the HERE Act authored by Congressman Joaquin Castro and Senator Alex Padilla. The HERE Act will create a new HSI-designated program, which will support partnerships and collaborations between HSIs and Hispanic- Serving School Districts (HSSDs). The HERE Act will help Hispanic students navigate the postsecondary education system and bridge the gap towards higher completion rates and educational attainment.
