For the first time in history, President Joe Biden has formally designated a week to honor educational institutions that serve Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students — particularly those from low-income, first-generation and underrepresented backgrounds.
Biden issued a proclamation making Sept. 25 through Oct. 1 Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week, with members of his administration visiting one of the institutions, Queens College, the City University of New York, on Tuesday to kick off the celebratory week.
These colleges and universities make up almost half of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) undergraduate enrollment, the proclamation noted. Some of the schools include the University of California, Irvine; the University of San Francisco; and the University of Massachusetts Boston.
“For so many, higher education is a ticket to a better life,” Biden wrote in the proclamation. “But while talent, creativity, and determination are found in people all across this country, not everyone has an equal shot at higher education.”
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Schools that are granted the classification receive federal funding. And so far, more than five dozen institutions have received funds as a result, according to New York University’s MSI Data Project. Though they make up just over 5% of all colleges and universities, they award 40% of the bachelor’s degrees and half of the associate degrees attained by all AANHPI college students.
Mike Hoa Nguyen, assistant professor of education at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, explained that the funds are generally used to increase enrollment; expand Asian American studies, research and other academic programs; and further diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
Schools can qualify to be part of the Asian American and…
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