February 23, 2021
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC/CUNY) is partnering with Excelencia in Education to share the release of “25 Years of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs),” a robust analysis designed to inform New York educational policy makers, academic researchers and elected officials about how best to serve Latino/a students in higher education.
State University of New York (SUNY) University at Albany will host a virtual public briefing on Thursday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. to discuss the report. BMCC is a co-sponsor of the briefing.
The event is free and open to the public. Click here to register.
This event will feature a series of discussions with leaders from Excelencia in Education, along with SUNY University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez, SUNY Chancellor Jim Malatras, CUNY Chancellor Felix Matos Rodríguez, Rockland County Community College President Michael Baston, BMCC/CUNY President Anthony Munroe and New York State Assemblywoman Maritza Davila.
“BMCC is honored to be a part of this important celebration recognizing the contributions of Hispanic Serving Institutions,” said BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe. “Serving Latinx students is central to advancing our mission of promoting equity, diversity and inclusion, and to our status as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. Our effort of ensuring socioeconomic mobility for the Latinx community is vital to enhancing the fabric of New York state and our society. As one of the co-sponsors of this celebration, we feel this event is also a testament to the strong relationships that we have built Excelencia in Education, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.”
Last year marked the 25th anniversary of the first federal funding received by HSIs. Since then, Excelencia in Education has chronicled the impact of HSIs over the years. This critical new analysis comes at a time when a record number of Latino students should be enrolling at colleges and universities.
HSIs and emerging HSIs in New York enroll and graduate a disproportionate number of the Latino students needed for an educated workforce and citizenry.
“Closing equity gaps in degree attainment requires investing in the institutions enrolling and graduating Latino students in our states and across the country,” said Deborah Santiago, Excelencia’s CEO. “Learning what these institutions are doing to intentionally serve Latino students and accelerating their impact is critical at the state and federal levels.”
Alfredo Medina Jr., executive director of University at Albany’s Office of Public Engagement and associate director of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, will moderate the event, including a Q&A opportunity for attendees.
“Good ideas need solid support,” said Sarita Brown, Excelencia’s president. “We thank President Rodríguez and the staff at the University at Albany for making common cause with Excelencia and for the leadership investment in this important research that informs the nation as we navigate current challenges and sets the course for the future.”
“As Hispanics make up a growing proportion of college-age students in New York State, it is essential that our institutions of higher education can meet the needs of this extremely heterogeneous population,” said SUNY/ University at Albany President Havidán Rodríguez. “We have a lot to learn from the experiences of HSIs in New York as we build the critical infrastructure to support Latinx student success.”
About Excelencia in Education:
Excelencia in Education accelerates Latino student success in higher education by promoting Latino student achievement, conducting analysis to inform educational policies, and advancing institutional practices while collaborating with those committed and ready to meet the mission. Launched in 2004 in the nation’s capital, Excelencia has established a network of results-oriented educators and policymakers to address the U.S. economy’s needs for a highly educated workforce and engaged civic leaders. For more information, visit: http://www.EdExcelencia.org.
About Borough of Manhattan Community College, CUNY:
Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) is part of The City University of New York (CUNY) and enrolls more than 22,000 degree-seeking students a year, awarding associate degrees in more than 50 fields. In 2020, BMCC ranked #9 out of 100 colleges for producing associate degrees for minority students, according to U.S. Department of Education data compiled by Diverse Issues in Higher Education. Ninety percent of BMCC students are from historically underrepresented groups, and BMCC is one of 10 finalists for the 2021 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence, the nation’s signature recognition of high achievement and performance among community colleges. For more information, visit: http://www.bmcc.cuny.edu
- BMCC is partnering with Excelencia in Education to share the release of “25 Years of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs),” an analysis designed to inform New York educational policy makers, academic researchers and elected officials about how best to serve Latino/a students in higher education
- University at Albany/SUNY will host a public forum on February 25, including a speaking segment featuring BMCC President Anthony E. Munroe and Rockland County Community College President Michael Baston
