September 18, 2020
Bipartisan Senate Resolution honors Hispanic-Serving Institutions, recognizes National HSIs Week, Sept. 14-20, 2020
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities applauds the U.S. Senate for recognizing the contributions made by Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and emerging HSIs. A bipartisan Senate Resolution introduced by U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and adopted unanimously by the full Senate observes National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.
The Senate Resolution (S.Res.703) acknowledges the achievements of the 539 HSIs throughout our nation by designating Sept. 14-20, 2020, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week.
The Resolution also recognizes HSIs as engines of economic mobility and as major contributors to the economic prosperity of the United States and the efforts these institutions are leading to increase Hispanic participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). To download a copy of the Resolution, click here.
“HACU applauds the Senate’s recognition of HSIs week and their acknowledgement of the value HSIs provide to countless students and communities across the nation,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores, who commended Senator Menendez for his continuous support of HSIs and all the senators who co-sponsored the resolution and supported its adoption.
Defined as degree-granting institutions where total Hispanic full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment constitutes no less than 25% of the total FTE enrollment, HSIs play a critical role in educating Hispanic students and improving the communities in which they are located. HSIs are located in 25 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico.
Emerging HSIs are defined as institutions that do not yet meet the threshold of 25 percent Hispanic FTE enrollment but serve a Hispanic population of between 15-24 percent and include 352 institutions in 35 states.
Joining Senator Menendez in cosponsoring the resolution are Senators:
- Bennet, Michael (D-CO)
- Booker, Cory (D-NJ)
- Braun, Mike (R-IN)
- Casey, Robert “Bob” (D-PA)
- Cornyn, John (R-TX)
- Cortez Masto, Catherine (D-NV)
- Duckworth, Tammy (D-IL)
- Durbin, Richard (D-IL)
- Feinstein, Dianne (D-CA)
- Gardner, Cory (R-CO)
- Harris, Kamala (D-CA)
- Heinrich, Martin (D-NM)
- Kaine, Timothy “Tim” (D-VA)
- Klobuchar, Amy (D-MN)
- Loeffler, Kelly (R-GA)
- McSally, Martha (R-AZ)
- Rosen, Jacky (D-NV)
- Rubio, Marco (R-FL)
- Sanders, Bernard “Bernie” (I-VT)
- Tillis, Thom (R-NC)
- Udall, Tom (D-NM)
- Van Hollen, Chris (D-MD)
- Wyden, Ron (D-OR)