This bill expresses support for designating a week in September as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week" to recognize their achievements and goals.
Joaquin Castro
Representative
TX-20
This bill officially designates the week of September 15 through September 21, 2024, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week." It recognizes the significant achievements and goals of these vital institutions across the nation. The resolution encourages public observance with appropriate activities to demonstrate support for Hispanic-Serving Institutions during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Congress Designates September 15–21, 2024, as 'National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week'
This resolution officially designates the week of September 15 through September 21, 2024, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week." The core purpose is to recognize the achievements and goals of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) across the country, encouraging the public to observe the week with activities that demonstrate support for these schools during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Why This Matters: The HSI Difference
If you're wondering what an HSI is, it’s a college or university where at least 25% of the full-time undergraduate student body is Hispanic. These institutions are critical players in making higher education accessible, especially for first-generation students and those from lower-income backgrounds. This designation is essentially a public nod to the massive role HSIs play in preparing the next generation of workers, from engineers to teachers to small business owners. It’s symbolic, but in the world of policy, recognition often precedes resources and greater visibility.
The Real-World Impact of a Designated Week
Since this resolution is about recognition rather than funding or regulation, the immediate impact is focused on awareness. Think of it as a national spotlight. By formally setting aside September 15–21, 2024, the resolution calls on communities and interest groups to organize events, ceremonies, and programs. For a student considering college, this could mean more local workshops or campus tours during that week. For a company looking to recruit diverse talent, it’s an invitation to engage directly with these institutions. Essentially, it raises the profile of HSIs, making their contributions and needs more visible to potential partners, donors, and policymakers.
This is a straight-forward, positive measure aimed at providing well-deserved recognition. It’s a low-vagueness, high-clarity resolution that simply says: these institutions are doing vital work, and we should all take a moment to celebrate it.