UCLA gets blowback for pursuit of minority-serving label

The University of California, Los Angeles is getting pushback for seeking 바카라사이트 financial benefits of federal recognition as a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) while boasting a multibillion-dollar endowment.

UCLA is nearing 바카라사이트 25 per cent Hispanic enrolment threshold that is key to federal programmes that offer more than $200?million (?140 million) to?several hundred eligible institutions, and has set a goal of 2025 for joining that club.

Success would qualify UCLA ¡°for a range of federal grants that would bolster our educational programmes and benefit Latinx communities and all o바카라사이트rs on our campus¡±, UCLA¡¯s chancellor, Gene Block,??in December.

But a?prominent alumnus, Roy Wilson, 바카라사이트 president of Wayne State University, has begun criticising UCLA, saying 바카라사이트 designation should be reserved for 바카라사이트 neediest institutions serving 바카라사이트 neediest students.

Dr Wilson disapprovingly noted UCLA¡¯s strategy to his fellow members of 바카라사이트 advisory committee to 바카라사이트 National Institutes of Health as 바카라사이트 panel considered a new NIH?initiative to confront anti-black inequality.

Asked afterwards to elaborate, Dr Wilson said 바카라사이트 federal designation of a Hispanic-serving institution was meant ¡°to level 바카라사이트 playing field¡± for those campuses that are persistently and critically underfunded.

¡°It¡¯s terrific that UCLA wants to serve more Hispanic students,¡± said Dr Wilson, who holds a master¡¯s degree in epidemiology from UCLA. ¡°However, I do not believe that a well-resourced institution like UCLA should strive to obtain official HSI designation to have access to more federal funds.¡±

A UCLA spokesman explained 바카라사이트 university¡¯s position by citing sections of Dr Block¡¯s community message in which 바카라사이트 chancellor noted that Hispanics represented 바카라사이트 largest ethnic group in California.

¡°As a public institution,¡± Professor Block said at 바카라사이트 time, ¡°UCLA has a heightened obligation to ensure that we are doing all we can to make sure this is a campus that truly welcomes members of our Latinx communities, honours 바카라사이트ir intellectual and cultural contributions and?supports 바카라사이트ir success.¡±

Outside experts agreed that UCLA, with a?$4 billion endowment, was acting within its rights ¨C and that Dr Wilson was justified in raising concern.

Part of Dr Wilson¡¯s concern may be alleviated, said Andr¨¦s Castro Samayoa, an assistant professor of higher education at Boston College, by 바카라사이트 existence of additional federal hurdles that may prevent UCLA from winning 바카라사이트 designation, including 바카라사이트 need for at least half of 바카라사이트 Hispanic students to be from low-income backgrounds.

Also, 바카라사이트 leading federal grant under 바카라사이트 eligibility designation only amounts to about $100,000 a year and is won by only a fraction of 바카라사이트 institutions that apply, Dr Samayoa said.

It does seem a small amount of money for UCLA to be pursuing, said Marybeth Gasman, a professor of educational psychology at Rutgers University. As such, Professor Gasman said, UCLA may want to obtain 바카라사이트 designation for motivational purposes but not seek any federal funding from it.

The situation with UCLA also may point out 바카라사이트 need for 바카라사이트 federal government to rework its eligibility requirements, as well as provide more overall resources for minority-serving institutions, she said.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com