It with a the understanding their questions come after all members complete their questions. The committee is meeting notice a legislative hearing to hear testimony onening anyone eninnings of enable mobile. The Critical Role of Community Colleges, black colleges and universes and minority serving institutions in preparing students for success. Pursuant to Committee Rules 7c, ohm statements are limited to the chair and Ranking Member and this allows to us hear from the witnesses sooner and provide all member with adequate time to ask questions. I recognize myself now for the purpose of making an openings statement. Today we will examine the credit cal role of hbcus, able to College Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Community Colleges in providing low income students and students of color with a quality Higher Education. Our first three bipartisan hearings have so clearly demonstrated that a College Degree remains the surest path to Financial Stability for americans across the country. This is particularly true for lowincome students and students of color who is educational and work force opportunities have historically been limited by intergenerational the Income Distribution can double their chances moving up the income ladder if they obtain a degree. However, federal data released this morning on College Enrollment reveals a 50 percentage point gap between lowincome students and theyre wealthy peers. We have much work to do. Hbcus, Tribal College and universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Community Colleges continue do this work and demonstrate their commitment and ability to provide these students with the benefits that come with a quality education. Founded for the specific purpose of educating black students because other institutions would not, hbcus continue to live up to their mission of providing a community where black students can thrive. Ahb ucs make um less than 3 of colleges and universities yet produce almost 20 of all black graduates. Tribal colleges and universities tcus were developed as part of political and social movement to regain tribal autonomy and combat centuries of forced assimilation and destruction of native communes. Today there are 35 accredited tcus serving students from more than 230 federalry registered tribes. The hispanics serving institutions educate more than three out of five undergraduate latino students and a quarter off all undergraduate students. Among fouryear institutions, Hispanic Serving Institutions propel low income students to top income brackets a as rate three times that of predominantly white institutions. Hispanic serving institutions can act as cultural hub ares to latino students many of whom earn the degree and return to work in their community. These are effective engines of neck mobile pause they meet students where i are and are dedicated to educationing the whole people. That imbed appreciation for the identity and culture or the students they serve and theyre foundational missions, honoring ancestors, sustaining traditions and engaging honestly with american history, served to signal to students that they belong in college. Many other institutions such as asianamerican, and black institutions, serve low income students and students of collar. These institutions are forced to do more with less. To be designated as minority serving institution, colleges must not only enroll a substantial number of students of color but it must also enroll a substantial number of pel students and have fewer resources than peer institutions. In my own state, the California State University system, is a model for how minority serving institutions hedge students overcome barriers to Higher Education. Reflecting the population of the state more than half of csu students are people of color. When in three students are the first in their family to attend college. And more than half of all students receive pell grants. Community college also play a crucial role in providing Higher Education to low income students and student of college. The twoyear colleges provide a local and affordable option for students who are priced out of fouryear institutions. In fact, Community Colleges enrolled one in three black students and nearly half of lat teen no, asianamerican and Pacific Islander and first generation students. American third of lowincome students attend Community Colleges. The great work being done across the country by hbcus, tcu, minority serving institutions and Community Colleges is unfortunately hamp bird deeply inadequate funding. Persistent and systemic underfinding of hbcus have been extensively documented. The federal government has never fully fulfilled its obligation to support native students at tr and less than half of designatessed hfis have received a grant through the specific programs and the average Community College receives half the amount of per student funding received by public fouryear colleges. With this funding inequity we must ask ourselves how are these institutions sill produce Still Producing such strong results . As our witnesses will highlight, when we invest in h byu and Tribal Colleges and university, Hispanic Serving Institutions and Community Colleges we empower hundreds of thousands of students each year with the most powerful tool available to achieve success, a College Degree. And last lyrics as we honor 56th beavers of brown v. Wood and wrestle with a promise unfilled its ed just like our k12 system we spend more now educate wealthy College Students than students who are underserved by our Education System. Depriving i constitutions that serve or most vulnerable College Students of the resources made tribal predominantly white fouryear universities is contrary to our values values ae best interests as a nation. Congress has a responsibility to strengthen and invest in institutions promoting economic mobile as we continue to work toward a reauthorization of key federal Higher Education policy we must understand the critical work these institutions are doing to address a specific need of todays students and invest in, invest, no these initiatives. Thank you, president barrett, to dr. Mchaton, chancellor due beau. Were all here today because we believe that every american should have the opportunity to pursue post secondary education, and we know doors are opened by College Degree and we understand the importance of making this kind of opportunity achievable for everyone in our country. Higher education can help set individuals on the right path to achieve the american dream. While its not the only path twerp a high quality family sustaining job, its provides many with the opportunity to get their foot in the door to a lifelong career. As a result of the economic policies we nut place, the good news is todays graduates are entering a booming job market. We have over 7 million job openings and at least 6. 7 million unemployed so im very proud of the community or economic growing will create for the next generation and believe that if we get students access, those who are willing to work hard, make good decisions, have an excellent opportunity to succeed. That access is a critical piece of the pie. Higher education should be accessible and attainable regardless of circumstance, which is why the federal government has made its clear priority to ensure that low income and first generation students have the tolts they need to prepare for post secondary occasion commitments and manage the costs associated with earning a degree. As we continue to consider what must be done in any reauthorization of the Higher Education act, we have the opportunity to ensure that restructuring and innovation in our Higher Education system provides all students that access to opportunities that offes those pathways to success, both inside and outside of the conventional classroom. That can mean alternative pathways to fouryear degree such as offering programs that teach and demand skills so students can take the class i that need do their jobs and reskill. For any of these changes no take place, we must recognize that the dollars, the money is an important part of the conversation and institutions need to be willing to take responsibility for this outcomes of their students. Stories like one from this weekend, where a billion area gifted an entire graduating class with paying off their student debt of great examples of one persons capacity for excellence in generosity and illustrate something that is too easily froggen, nothing is free and somebody always pays the price. Means Congress Need to do all we took make Higher Education an investment that doesnt cost more than it reaps and thats true for students and for taxpayers who are the prosper act that was comprehensive proposal to reauthorize the hea in the last congress, republicans includes reforms that allowed students greater access to federal student aid, promoted earn and learn programs, increased flexibility in spending institutional aid, and reformed the federal Work Study Program to better prepare students for future employment in their chosen fields. These bold ideas for affordable and accessible post secondary education recognize for too long the federal government has complied with a myonic view of what post secondary education is. This committee should continue to consider these reforms Top Priorities as its discusses policy changes that could be included in the authorization of the hea. We need to be striving on both sides of the aisle for new ideas that will increase opportunities for all American Students regardless of circumstance and support their efforts toed and and prosper. Provost at savannah State University and local university. Barrett received his undergraduate degree, lobby in biochemistry from columbia and phd in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of technology. Doctor patricia mcfaddens executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Student Success and peace 16 integration at the university of texas Rio Grande Valley hispanic institution. Doctor manhattan has served in a variety of leadership positions including enough college of education, chair and associate dean for teacher preparation. He earned a phd from curricular instruction with an emphasis in special education and urban education. Doctor glenn dubois, longestserving chancellor in the history of virginias Community Colleges hired in 2001 and he has led the system of 22 colleges and 40 campuses into successful strategic plans and a third while complete 2021 which aspired to triple the number of credentials in virginias economy. Dubois earned his phd in Higher Education administration, research and policy from the university of massachusetts. A masters degree from Eastern Kentucky university, bachelors degree in Florida Atlantic andassociate of science degree from the State University of new york in farmingdale. Doctor sandra bohan is the president of a Tribal College and university located in montana at the serving of Vice President of Academic Affairs. He has more than two decades of experience working in Higher Education open montana and california. Doctor bohan is an enrolled member of the salish kootenai tribes of the flathead indian reservation. She earned her doctorate at education in Educational Leadership from the university of montana, holds a masters of education from montana State University and a bachelor of arts in sociology from the university of montana again, welcome to you all. We appreciate all the witnesses for being here, for you all being here and look forward to your testimony. I wanted to remind you we have read your written statement and they will appear in full in the hearing record. Pursuant to committee will 70 and Committee Practice interview was asked to your oral presentation to a fiveminute summary of your written statement. I also wanted to remind you pursuant to title 18 of the us code section 2001 it is illegal to knowingly and willfully falsify any statement representation writingdocument or material facts presented to congress or otherwise conceal or cover up material fact. Before you begin please remember to press the button on the microphone because it will turn on and we all can hear you. As you begin to speak, the light in front of you will turn green and after four minutes alike were turned yellow to signal you have one remaining minute and when the light turns red yourfive minutes had expired and we will ask you to please wrapup. We will the entire panel make the presentation before we moved to member questionsand when answering a question please remember to once again turn your microphone on. First to recognize is doctor barrett thank you, subcommittee chairwoman susan davis, Ranking Member parker, member of the subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to address you. I serviced six president of the university of louisiana, founded by katherine drexel. My institution is catholic and also a hbcu. The purpose is to contribute to the promotionof the just and humane society. This preparation take place and diversified environments that incorporate all relative learning means including researchexperiences and community service. I was asked to testify today on the institution as an engine of economic mobility and the program that demonstrates this as an institution. How these programs prepare students for careers and a brief history of hbcus, why they are created and why theyre important. Hbcu were created as early as 1837 to provide africanamericans access to education. Noted for their contributions to educating black low income and education disadvantaged americans, hundred one hbcus constitute the class institutions that satisfy the statute Authority Requirements and definition for hbcus as assigned by the Higher Education committee. In my home state of louisiana according to an impact study by the un cf united new college fund, the impact of the six hbcus in the state on our regional economy and employment and title thousand 454 jobs. Total Economic Impact of 924 , 923 million. When the lifetime learning of 94, 9. 4 billion. Specifically the regional impact of our institution is not an impact of 200 million in our region. The valueadded impact of 135 million and labor income of 95 alien dollars and employment impact of 1715 jobs. The navy is considered to be one of the best value schools in the nation of quality education according to the u. S. News and world report. However as our students come close to realizing the dreams of Higher Education , the more expensive these goals become. 22,000 three dollars per year, this is considerably lower than its care institutions. More than 93 percent of the undergraduate five for needbased or other forms of Financial Aid. And more than 65 percent receive federal programs. We are grateful for your bipartisan support. And for getting to the hbcu Hurricane Katrina supplemental loan on that will help us recover from the disaster. They begin preparing africanamerican physicians and also sending africanamerican pacs to the sciences. As were innovating our programs to prepare our students for the workforce. And changing workforce. We are launching 14 new highquality programs to a bs in neuroscience and the only Physicians Assistance Program in the state of louisiana. The phd in education, we believe that all children deserve great teachers, but we are also engaged in highly qualified teachers for our primary and secondary schools. The expansion of our Program Offers over the past three involving needs of students to be globally competitive to meet the needs of our regional and national workforce. Maybe Student Academic Success Office provides the resources and support systems to assist all students. In being successful. The un Cf Foundation