Includes $1 Million specifically for HSI Equity Innovation Hub at CSUN

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) announced that he secured over $254 million in federal funding to support Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in the Senate’s Labor, Health, and Human Services appropriations bill. This would be an increase of over $90 million in grants available to HSIs compared to last year’s budget. Following its release by the Senate Appropriations Committee, the bill will now be reconciled with its House counterpart before final passage.

California is home to 175 HSIs, the most of any state in the nation. Last month, Padilla co-founded the first-ever Senate HSI Caucus with Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.).

“Investing in HSIs is a strategic way to both enhance America’s competitiveness in the global economy and promote equity in higher education,” Senator Padilla said. “As a proud representative of California, home to the largest Latino population and the most HSIs in the country, I know the value of investing in these higher education institutions. I look forward to continue working to increase funding for HSIs and ensure that institutions with a track record of success for our students can continue to thrive.”

Funding levels for minority serving institutions, such as HSIs, have consistently fallen short of what is needed to effectively serve these groups. In 2019, the total funding available for HSIs represented just $87 per Latino student enrolled.

$226.5 Million to Support HSIs

The Appropriations Committee included $226,529,000 for competitive grants to HSIs. This would be an increase of over $77 million compared to funding in last year’s budget. These grants could be used for scientific or laboratory equipment, renovation of instructional facilities, development of faculty, support for academic programs and institutional management, and purchase of educational materials.

$27.1 Million Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Latinos

The Committee included $27,106,000 for competitive grants to HSIs to help Latino students gain entry into and succeed in graduate study. This would be an increase of over $13 million compared to last year’s budget. HSIs would be able to use grant funding to support low-income students through outreach programs, academic support services, mentoring and financial assistance, procurement of scientific or laboratory equipment, facilities improvements and construction, and the purchase of educational materials.

Since 2014, 10 CSU campuses have been awarded grants under this program.

$1 Million for the HSI Equity Innovation Hub at California State University Northridge

Funding was also included for a project submitted by Senator Padilla to support the development of a national HSI Equity Innovation Hub at California State University Northridge. This Hub will provide programming to transform HSIs throughout the California State University system and the nation in order to increase student success and equip Latino and other historically underserved students with skills for high-demand careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Sen. Padilla supported the launch of the Global HSI Equity Innovation Hub in September.

A complete summary and text of the Senate’s Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations bill is available here.

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