Federal Programs in Support of Hispanic Education
| Initiative: | Federal Programs in Support of Hispanic Education |
| University: | UH-Downtown |
| Focus: | Urban/Minority Education |
Overview
With a student body that is 36 percent Hispanic, 27 percent African American, 10 percent Asian and 24 percent Anglo, UH-Downtown is the most ethnically diverse of the state's universities and the most reflective of the state's growing urban population. UHD has an impressive record of success in raising both the participation rates and the baccalaureate success rates of the state's previously underserved minority populations. In 2003, UHD graduated 1,428 students, 744 of whom were minorities.
With its traditional emphasis on strong student support services and longstanding commitment to providing access to previously underserved segments of the state's population, UHD is particularly well-positioned to serve the educational needs of the region's rapidly growing Hispanic population. Of the 1,201 FTIC students admitted in fall 2003, 634 were Hispanics. The university's Jesse Jones Academic Institute has been nationally recognized for its success in bringing about a dramatic increase in college-going rates among graduates of the largely Hispanic Jefferson Davis High School. With an overall Hispanic enrollment well in excess of 25 percent, UHD has been an officially designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) since Congress established that designation in 1992.
To ensure that UH-Downtown continues to provide strong support to the Hispanic community, the institution supports increased appropriations for Hispanic higher education within the budgets of key federal programs. These include:
The National Science Foundation's (NSF) Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) makes resources available to upgrade the research capabilities of minority-serving institutions. This proposal is due in early 2004 and will be led by Dr. Richard Alo as a continuation of our Minority Infrastructure Grant from NSF. It is estimated that UHD will propose $1 million per year for five years for this program.
NSF Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Minority Infrastructure Program provides awards to aid efforts that might significantly expand the numbers of minority students in science and engineering disciplines. UHD has earned one of these awards, but could compete for a second award in the near future. UHD is planning to submit three proposals for this competition in early 2004. Two of the efforts are being led by Dr. Richard Alo, and one is being led by Dr. Madeline Johnson. Each grant could produce awards totaling $600,000 for three years.
The Department of Education's Strengthening Institutions Program, through Development Grants and Planning Grants, helps eligible institutions become self-sufficient and expand their capacity to serve low-income students by providing funds to improve and strengthen academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability. We are exploring a grant that will include $250,000 per year for four years, or $1 million.
Department of Education's TRIO Program, through Student Support Services (SSS), provides opportunities for academic development, assists students with basic college requirements, and serves to motivate students towards the successful completion of their postsecondary education. Currently, UHD has Upward Bound and Talent Search programs, which have been very successful and continue to be funded. UHD formerly had a SSS grant and plans to submit a proposal in fall 2004 for this program. The program announcement only comes around every five years. UHD submitted a proposal for the 2000 competition. While our scores were high, UHD did not win the 2004/5 competition. UHD anticipates requesting about $300,000 per year for four years or $1.2 million.
Department of Education's Teacher Quality Enhancement Grants make lasting changes in the ways teachers are recruited, prepared, licensed, and supported. One clear goal of the program is to support efforts to reduce shortages of qualified teachers in high-need school districts. UHD will send a proposal to this program in early 2004. The project will build on successful experiences from the PQE (Partnership for Quality Education through DOE) efficacy data. On teacher quality and enhancement grants, UHD can request up to $750,000 per year for four years, so the potential here is $3 million.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Outreach Partnerships Center The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Outreach Partnerships Center provides funding for universities to establish and operate a community outreach partnership center to address the problems of urban areas. This project has great potential. Funding would be needed for a five-year partnership with a community college for $250,000 per year for four years, totaling $1 million.
