U.S. Education Secretary To Keynote Hispanic Higher Education Forum

San Antonio, TX – The Hispanic Association of Colleges and University (HACU) announces that U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will be among the speakers at HACU’s 15th Annual National Capitol Forum, an event that brings together leaders and supporters of Hispanic higher education. The Capitol Forum takes place April 18-20 at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C. Secretary Duncan will be the keynote speaker at the opening session on Monday, April 19, and will speak from 8-8:30 a.m.

“We are honored to have Secretary Duncan address the HACU Capitol Forum on this milestone year, which marks the 15^th consecutive year that we have met in Washington to further education success for all Hispanics,” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “This forum will provide an opportunity to discuss issues important to Hispanic-Serving Institutions, such as No Child Left Behind and the DREAM Act as part of Comprehensive Immigration Reform, and will allow us to discuss these issues directly with members of Congress during our Capitol Hill visits.”

More than 20 speakers are scheduled at the forum, including: Juan Sepulveda, Director, White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans; The Honorable Arden Bement, Director, National Science Foundation; The Honorable Garth Graham, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services (DHHS); Barbara J. DesMarteau, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor; and other leaders from the public and non-profit sectors.

Topics for the sessions include: Preparing Students for a 21st Century Economy; Current & Future Legislation Impacting HSIs: Comprehensive Immigration Reform and the DREAM Act; and the Workforce Investment Act.

The HACU Capitol Forum will also include delegations to Capitol Hill led by presidents of HACU-member institutions to urge Congress to increase funding for Hispanic-Serving Institutions, which currently receive about half the federal funding per student compared to all institutions of higher education.

Capitol Forum Registration information and agenda are available at www.hacu.net.

About HACU
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) is the only national educational association that represents existing and emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions in the nation. Founded in 1986, HACU represents nearly 450 colleges and universities committed to Hispanic higher education success in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, Spain and Portugal. For more information, visit www.hacu.net.

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Note to Editors: Complimentary Online registration is open to media who plan to cover HACU's Capitol Forum. HACU defines "media" as any writer, photographer, videographer, photojournalist, editor, producer or publisher with a specific editorial assignment to cover the conference for a media outlet.

Media Contact: Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia, njgarcia@hacu.net, 210-576-3206

Contact:	Norma Jean Revilla-Garcia
	Executive Director of Communications and Marketing
	Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
	Phone: (210) 576-3206
	E-Mail: njgarcia@hacu.net