Supporting HSIs and HBCUs will benefit every Virginian

Note: The following article was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on August 29, 2021. You can read the full article here .

By Irma Becerra and James Dyke

Last year, Marymount University achieved a significant milestone when it was independently designated as the first Hispanic-Serving Institution in Virginia — an achievement acknowledged by Gov. Ralph Northam in his State of the Commonwealth address.

By 2030, the Latinx population in the U.S. is expected to increase by 25%. As this group grows, so does the need to create a more equitable pathway to success through higher education. Latinx success in higher ed will not only benefit the Latinx community but our economy as well. Experts predict we will need 6.2 million more Latinx students to earn a college degree over the next 10 years just to meet workforce needs.

The deck, however, is stacked against Latinx students. They have the lowest educational attainment rate for any major racial group in the U.S., with just 19% earning a bachelor’s degree or higher compared with 25% for Blacks and 35% for whites. In Virginia, we see similar roadblocks for underrepresented groups in both college degree completion and high school student enrollment in college.

Last fall, higher education nationally experienced a 5% drop in Latinx undergraduate enrollment after a decade of steady positive growth for this group. Further, as remote learning became a dominant issue in American education, barriers based on race and ethnicity became increasingly apparent. As U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona said, “Equity is a big factor for us moving forward. Institutions like HSIs play a major role in that.”

Throughout recent history, Latinx students have faced similar obstacles that have impeded Black students on their academic and professional journeys. Fortunately, as the nation continues to navigate a racial reckoning in an earnest effort to repair the damage done by generations of discrimination and inequitable access, we see an increased awareness of our responsibility to support all minority-serving institutions.

In Virginia, as our leaders seek to solve issues relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, they must do so in a way that positively impacts both underserved populations to make a meaningful difference and to fulfill the commonwealth’s future workforce demands. Maximizing resources and funding for Virginia’s five Historically Black Colleges and Universities, as well as its sole HSI, is necessary to achieve Virginia’s vision of becoming the “Best State for Education.”

By teaming up to collaborate and present a united front on behalf of students from underrepresented groups, HSIs and HBCUs, as well as our commonwealth and its business community, have much to gain. For that reason, as the governor and General Assembly prepare the next state budget in January 2022 and as the Congress acts on reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, we urge them to:

• Significantly increase the maximum Pell Grant award. The fiscal impact from the Pell Grant program has diminished over time, and students from low-income families — many of whom are students of color who attend minority-serving institutions — are in critical need of additional aid to pay for higher education.
• Increase federal and state funding for HSIs and HBCUs. These schools need significant federal funding expansions. The earmarking of $255 million in permanent funding for STEM programs at minority-serving institutions in the CARES Act is an excellent start in what hopefully becomes a reliable action by lawmakers to create far-reaching impacts.
• Continue to aggressively grow TAG awards in Virginia targeted to Pell-eligible students. Virginia’s private colleges and universities include two HBCUs, one HSI and 12 Pell-Serving Institutions. The governor’s proposed $11 million in funding for students at private institutions through American Rescue Plan funding is a great step toward reaching this goal.
• Fund equity-focused initiatives. Institutions have taken it upon themselves to find solutions for problems caused by COVID. One such solution is Marymount’s Blue Shirt Program, which offers a second chance at college admission to high school students whose academic performance was adversely affected by the pandemic.

For Virginia to meet its overall goals for degree attainment to grow our economy, serving lower-income students and those from underrepresented groups will go a long way toward a brighter future for every citizen in the commonwealth.

Irma Becerra is president of Marymount University in Arlington. Contact her at:?[email protected]

James Dyke is a former Virginia secretary of education who is a trustee for Marymount University and a member of the board of visitors of Norfolk State University. Contact him at:?[email protected]