III 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. RES. 280 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 23, 2011 Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Reid, Mr. Udall of New Mexico, Mr. Udall of Colorado, Mr. Begich, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Murray, Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Nelson of Florida, Mr. Coons, Mrs. Gillibrand, and Mrs. Hutchison) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Designating the week beginning September 19, 2011, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week and recognizing the achievements of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities.

Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions play an important role in educating many underprivileged students and helping those students attain their full potential through higher education; Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions are degree-granting institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students; Whereas in 2010, there were 307 Hispanic-serving institutions in the United States, enrolling 1,348,436 Hispanic students in nonprofit postsecondary schools; Whereas Hispanic-serving institutions are actively involved in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the Hispanic-serving institutions are located; Whereas 54 percent of Hispanic students in the United States attend nonprofit, postsecondary Hispanic-serving institutions; Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic-serving institutions to the United States strengthens the culture of the United States; Whereas the achievements and goals of Hispanic-serving institutions are deserving of national recognition; Whereas 2011 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, an organization that works to improve the capacity of Hispanic-serving institutions in helping students across the United States succeed; Whereas the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities fulfills its mission by promoting the development of member colleges and universities, improving access to, and the quality of, postsecondary educational opportunities for Hispanic students, and meeting the needs of business, industry, and government through the development and sharing of resources, information, and expertise; and Whereas the week beginning September 19, 2011, would be an appropriate week for national recognition of Hispanic-serving institutions: Now, therefore, be it

That the Senate— (1)recognizes the achievements and goals of Hispanic-serving institutions across the United States; (2)recognizes the achievements of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities throughout the 25 years since the establishment of the organization; (3)designates the week beginning September 19, 2011, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week; and (4)calls on the people of the United States and interested groups to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for Hispanic-serving institutions.