$17.2 Million Awarded in Grants to Help Hispanic-Serving Institutions

U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings today announced the award of 30 new grants totaling $17.2 million to benefit colleges and other postsecondary schools that enroll a high percentage of Hispanic students.

“Thanks to No Child Left Behind, the achievement gap is closing for Hispanic students and academic progress is on the rise,” Spellings said. “At the higher education level it’s a different story where Hispanic students still lag behind their peers in earning a post-secondary credential. This program will ensure that Hispanic students have access to quality programs at the higher education level to improve their opportunities for success beyond school.”

Grants are awarded under the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions program to expand educational opportunities and improve the educational attainment of Hispanic students. The purpose of the grants is to improve the academic quality, institutional stability, management, and fiscal capabilities of eligible institutions. Funds may be used for a variety of activities, such as: faculty development, curriculum development, scientific or laboratory equipment, construction and renovation of instructional facilities, academic tutoring, counseling and student support services.

There are two types of grants awarded under the program. An Individual Development Grant is awarded to a single, eligible institution. A Cooperative Arrangement Development Grant is awarded to an institution and its partners. A Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) is defined as a non-profit institution that has at least 25 percent Hispanic full-time equivalent enrollment. Additional information on these grants is available at: http://www.ed.gov/programs/idueshsi/index.html.

Note to Editors: Attached is a list of grantees, by state and type of grant. The amount listed is for the first year of a five-year grant.

Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) Program Awards
FY 2007

Individual Development Grants
AZ — Coolidge, Pinal County Community College, $574,871.
CA — La Verne, University of LaVerne, $483,500.
CA — San Bernardino, California State University of San Bernardino, $499,994.
CA — Santa Maria, Allan Hancock Joint Community College District, $574,177.
CA — Valley Glen, Los Angeles Valley College, $570,693.
CA — Ventura, Ventura College, $574,011.
FL — Hialeah, Miami Dade College—Hialeah Campus, $554,999.
FL — North Miami Beach, Nova Southeastern University—North Miami Beach Campus, $564,700.
IL — Chicago, Northeastern Illinois University, $573,453.
KS — Dodge City, Dodge City Community College, $572,585.
KS — Garden City, Garden City Community College, $574,922.
KS — Kansas City, Donnelly College, $561,768.
NJ — Paterson, Passaic County Community College, $511,264.
NM — Clovis, Clovis Community College, $574,446.
NM — Las Vegas, Luna Community College, $574,445.
NM — Roswell, Eastern New Mexico University—Roswell, $573,553.
NY — New York, LaGuardia Community College, $574,930.
NY — Dobbs Ferry, Mercy College, $574,854.
PR — Bayamon, Bayamon Central University, $574,927.
PR — San Juan, Universidad Metropolitana, $574,800.
PR — San Juan, Escuela de Artes Plasticas de Puerto Rico, $489,540.
TX — Corpus Christi, Del Mar College, $360,864.
TX — Harlingen, Texas State Technical College—Harlingen, $417,690.
TX — Uvalde, Sul Ross State University—Rio Grande, $574,708.
WA — Yakima, Yakima Valley Community College, $575,000.

Cooperative Development Grants
CA — Woodland Hills, Los Angeles Pierce College, $712,999.
CA — Monterey Park, East Los Angeles College, $713,000.
CA — Salinas, Hartnell College, $713,000.
TX — Laredo, Laredo Community College, $713,000.
TX — Snyder, Western Texas College, $698,817.