Biden is hosting an official ceremony celebrating federal support for institutions serving Spain

President Joe Biden hosted a formal ceremony on Wednesday to publicly mark the issuance of an executive order establishing an initiative to increase funding for Hispanic-serving institutions and create an HSI board of advisors.

According to the White House.

With U.S. Census Bureau population estimates projecting that Latinos will account for nearly three-quarters of the nation’s population growth in 2022–23, higher education leaders are calling on the president to spread the word about the new initiative, given its potential to help Latino students catch up with peers from other backgrounds.

“Latino-serving institutions are the places that turn students’ dreams into reality,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona in a statement to X. “When we support inclusive spaces, we support everyone!”

The ceremony took place after the Latino Association of Colleges and Universities, a nonprofit advocacy group, published a petition asking Biden to hold a public event to promote the HSI initiative.

Higher education advocates in Latino communities say they are optimistic about federal efforts to support hundreds of local colleges and universities.

In a statement, HACU CEO Antonio R. Flores, who attended the ceremony, thanked Biden for taking action to make HSI successful. Flores said the executive order shows the federal understanding of how important HSIs are to the future of the nation.

“The numerous supports for HSI established by this executive order mark the beginning of a new era for our schools, expanding and improving the landscape in which they operate,” Flores said. “This will bring HSIs to the table and ensure that the students they serve have access to an education that is equitable and accessible, fulfilling the promise of the American Dream that increasingly depends on a college degree.”

Latin American students hope the executive order will help HSIs improve infrastructure and provide students with more resources in different languages.

According to federal data, more than 500 HSI locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico serve more than 4.7 million students each year. Many students are low-income, and nearly a third qualify for Pell Grants, which are federal grants for students in need.

Unlike historically black or tribal colleges and universities, which are named based on their mission, any college can receive the HSI designation and associated federal money if the number of Latino students reaches at least 25% of the student body.

Latinos, who can be any race, are the second largest demographic group in the country. Their population grew by about 1.2 million last year to 65.2 million, meaning Latinos make up almost one-fifth of the total population, according to census estimates.

Biden’s executive order aims to strengthen HSIs’ ability to provide high-quality education, take advantage of existing federal programs, and increase the educational and economic mobility of their students.

HSIs “play a critical role in ensuring Latinos have access to the middle class and realize their aspirations,” White House domestic policy adviser Neera Tanden said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. “The president’s executive order will strengthen these critical institutions and build their capacity to provide economic mobility for all students.”

___

The Associated Press has received financial support from the Sony Global Social Justice Fund to expand some coverage areas. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find access points standards for cooperation with philanthropies, list of supporters and areas covered by funding at AP.org.