HACU President Comments on Education Secretary Appointment

Statement by HACU President
on the appointment of the new U.S. Secretary of Education

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) President and CEO Antonio Flores issued the following statement today on the appointment of Arne Duncan as the next U.S. Secretary of Education.

“The appointment of Mr. Arne Duncan as the next U.S. Secretary of Education is another step towards improving our schools so that all of our children have the opportunity to succeed in school, to graduate from high school, and to pursue their aspirations to college and university or to their chosen career.

"Having led the country’s third-largest school district for the past seven years, Mr. Duncan is surely familiar with the challenges to our nation’s ability to educate our youth. The majority of Hispanic young people are enrolled in large and often under-funded school districts. We trust that Mr. Duncan’s experience will raise awareness of the urgent need to increase the achievement rates of all students, but especially of those Hispanics who too often are denied the higher educational opportunities to develop their talents and make their best contributions to the American way of life.

"HACU will continue to work for more adequate funding to strengthen the capacity of Hispanic-Serving Institutions of higher learning (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving School Districts.

"HACU pledges to work with Mr. Duncan to assure equal access to education for every student. We look forward, under this new administration, to a renewed commitment to educational access and success for all Americans as the only sure and solid foundation of our country’s future."