Strengthening Minority Serving Institutions: Best Practices and Innovations for Student Success. Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session on Examining Strengthening Minority Serving Institutions, Focusing on the Best Practices and Innovations for Student Success (Tuesday, May 13, 2014). Senate Hearing 113-835
Author: US Senate. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Date: 2017-00-00
Type: Legal/Legislative/Regulatory Materials
Subjects: Educational Legislation,Federal Legislation,Higher Education,Minority Group Students,Academic Achievement,Institutional Characteristics,Black Colleges,Tribally Controlled Education,Educational Innovation,Hispanic American Students,Asian American Students,Pacific Americans,Low Income Students,Males,STEM Education,Teacher Education,Educational Attainment

This marks the ninth hearing that the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee has convened in advance of the Higher Education Act reauthorization. The purpose of this hearing is to discuss the unique challenges facing minority serving institutions (MSIs) and to learn about programs and support to help facilitate student success. MSIs vary in mission, diversity, and history, but they are all connected to the complex racial and ethnic histories of the United States. These institutions have a long history of helping students succeed who may not have otherwise gone to college. Together, the MSIs enroll 2.3 million students, including black, Hispanic, Native American, Asian American, and Pacific Islander American students. Collectively, MSIs represent a rich cohort of schools, including HBCUs, predominantly black institutions, Hispanic serving institutions, American Indian tribal controlled colleges and universities, Native American serving non-tribal institutions, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian serving institutions, and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander serving institutions. The MSIs serve a disproportionate amount of first-generation, low-income students. The greatest strength of these institutions lies in their extensive experience working with and serving underrepresented students and the communities in which they are located. The group of distinguished panelists presenting oral and written statements at this hearing share stories and insights about the challenges facing their institutions and discuss the innovative strategies their schools are employing to meeting the needs of this diverse population. The hearing begins with statements from the following committee members: (1) Honorable Kay R. Hagan, a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina; (2) Honorable Lamar Alexander, a U.S. Senator from the State of Tennessee; (3) Honorable Rand Paul, a U.S. Senator from the State of Kentucky; (4) Honorable Patty Murray, a U.S. Senator from the State of Washington; (5) Honorable Robert P. Casey, Jr., a U.S. Senator from the State of Pennsylvania; (6) Honorable Elizabeth Warren, a U.S. Senator from the State of Massachusetts; (7) Honorable Richard Burr, a U.S. Senator from the State of North Carolina; and (8) Honorable Tom Scott, a U.S. Senator from the State of South Carolina. Statements from the following witnesses are then presented: (1) Marybeth Gasman, Ph.D., Professor of Higher Education and Director of the Center for Minority-Serving Institutions at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Philadelphia; (2) Michael L. Lomax, Ph.D., President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, Washington, DC; (3) Elroy Ortiz Oakley, B.A., M.B.A., President of Long Beach City College, Long Beach, California; (4) D. Jason DeSousa, Ed.D., Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Retention, Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina; and (5) John Bassett, Ph.D., President of Heritage University, Toppenish, Massachusetts. Additional materials are provided by Dene K. Thomas, Ph.D., President, Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado and Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., President &amp; CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF).