Celebrating S.Res.639 at SPC This Week

AS THE U.S. SENATE UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVES NATIONAL HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK WITH S.RES.639, ST. PHILIP’S COLLEGE, COMMUNITY CELEBRATE

When the Senate of the United States unanimously called upon the people of the United States and interested groups to observe a special occasion this week with activities that demonstrate support for degree-granting institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment comprised of at least 25 percent Hispanic students, one of the diverse institutions answering the U.S. Senate's call to give back and celebrate student success was St. Philip's College, a member of the Alamo Colleges District with a unique status.

The senate resolution S.Res.639 was adopted unanimously by the full senate on Sept. 18, leading to an unprecedented alignment of educational observances at St. Philip’s College. 

St. Philip's College traditionally observes National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week with observance dates established by The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, and because its 2018 HSI Week observance coincided with both the 120th anniversary of the college and the 300th anniversary of San Antonio, St. Philip's College dedicated resources for its President's Lecture Series project to the Hispanic Heritage Month keynote speaking debut of Hidden Figures author Margot Lee Shetterly for an overflow audience Sept. 20 at the college. In addition to the two major anniversaries and the college celebration of STEM scholarship with Shetterly and outstanding students in San Antonio, the week had additional double significance at the college in 2018 as HBCU Week overlapped with HSI Week (Sept. 17-23) for the first time in memory at the world's only Historically Black College and Universities member institution with Hispanic Serving Institution status.

"The 492 HSIs in the United States and Puerto Rico not only enroll 65% of all Hispanics, they also enroll 21% of all African Americans, 39% of all Asian Americans and 18% of all Native Americans, making them the most diverse cohort of higher education institutions, and a true reflection of the diversity of our nation," HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores said in a Sept. 19 news release from U.S. Senator Bob Menendez's office. HSIs play a critical role in educating Hispanic youth and improving the communities in which they are located. The institutions are located in 21 states and Puerto Rico with emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions located in 33 States and the District of Columbia, according to the Sept. 19 release.

Visit the web to view the Sept. 19 release and to view S.Res.639 - A resolution designating the week beginning September 17, 2018, as "National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week".