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Rep. Jimmy Panetta Secures Federal Funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions in California’s 19th Congressional District

September 28, 2023

Monterey, CA – United States Representative Jimmy Panetta (CA-19) announced that he had secured nearly $7 million in new federal funding for Hispanic-serving Institutions in California’s 19th Congressional District.  Cabrillo College in Aptos and Evergreen Valley College in South San Jose will receive approximately $3.5 million each, over the next five years, to support the expansion and enhancement of academic offerings for students.  This funding was made possible through the Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions (DHSI) Program at the United States Department of Education.

Hispanic-Serving Institutions are not-for-profit institutions of higher learning with a full-time equivalent undergraduate student enrollment that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. More than 50 percent of Cabrillo College students are Hispanic. Evergreen Valley College’s undergraduate population is more than 42 percent Hispanic.

“We want everybody to have the opportunity to excel in their educational endeavors, especially at our local community colleges,” said Rep. Panetta.  “This major federal investment in two of our Hispanic-serving Institutions in California’s 19th Congressional District will enhance their facilities, programming, educators, and materials and ensure world-class education for all of our students.  I look forward to continuing to support our local community colleges with this type of significant federal investment so that everyone has the opportunity to succeed.”

“We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for this grant, and receiving the good news at the conclusion of the College’s robust celebration of HSI Week underscores the excellent work we’ve been doing to become a truly Hispanic serving institution,” said Matt Wetstein, President and Superintendent of Cabrillo College.  “With the creation and evolution of our HSI Task Force and our pursuit of innovative practices and grants like this one, we are committed to bolstering retention and completion rates among our Latinx students, and it is working.  Currently 48% of our student population is Latinx, and nearly 52% of our 2023 graduating class was Latinx, meaning our Latinx students are completing and succeeding at higher rates.”

Funds may be used for activities such as; scientific or laboratory equipment for teaching; construction or renovation of instructional facilities; faculty development; purchase of educational materials; academic tutoring or counseling programs; funds and administrative management; joint use of facilities; endowment funds; distance learning academic instruction; teacher education; and student support services.

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Issues: Education