As promised in a recent meeting here is a copy of the letter
I sent to Governor Granholm about the KCP problems dated April 8th.
This same letter was personally handed to her soon after.
Besides attaching it to this email, I also included it in
the text of this email.
Thanks.
Osvaldo “Ozzie” Rivera
Madonna University
*****************************
April 8, 2005
Honorable Governor Jennifer M. Granholm
Dear Honorable Governor Granholm:
By way of introduction, I am the director of Multicultural
Affairs at Madonna University, a private institution, and also a member of a
state wide network of higher education administrators and program directors who
work directly with the recruitment and retention of students from historically
underrepresented racial and ethnic groups as well as students from
educationally and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The purpose of this letter is to bring to your attention
some serious concerns I have which are shared by a significant number of
educators and administrators from both private and public universities. The
potential impact of proposed language changes for the King-Chavez-Parks (KCP) Initiative
will negatively impact the aforementioned students. Of particular interest is
our concern that this will have a chilling effect on historically
underrepresented ethnic and racial groups.
We ask for an opportunity to speak to you or to a designated
representative about the issues detailed below.
We were elated when the recent Cherry Commission Report on
Higher Education was released and it championed the goals of increasing and
successfully graduating a greater number of university and college students here
in
It does appear that you have not been well served and
advised in your efforts to move ahead with your higher education agenda. Recent
language changes proposed by the Department of Management and Budget for the Executive
Budget Bill re:the King Chavez Parks Initiative go counter to the spirit of the
Commission report and your own goals. What is proposed is not good policy, is not
inclusive and undermines a commitment to higher education. This will gut
successful program interventions which have been in place for close to two
decades and which have played a critical role in insuring the diversity of our
university and college campuses. This is especially troubling given that
the dollar amount involved, 5.1 million dollars, is a rather miniscule amount
given the state’s total budget. Quite frankly more funds are needed.
Though this letter does not propose to go into extensive
analysis I will offer a few examples to give some indication of some of its
potential impact.
Proposed language would cut out private universities and
colleges, historically a key partner in the fight to retain and graduate
minority students. In recent conversations with my colleagues in public
institutions they have unequivocally stated their opposition to such a move.
Additional language would cut back college visitation days
to only high school students. Research shows this type of intervention
must start earlier. Our practice has been to include middle school students in
the King Chavez Parks College Days.
Furthermore proposed language limits services to students of
color, whereas KCP funded programs historically have been more encompassing.
Now that the executive budget bill with its proposed
language changes is being discussed within the legislative bodies, many of us
who work so hard around retention issues are fearful that our progress to date
and future efforts are in jeopardy.
We welcome an opportunity to speak to you and/or your
designated representative. I can be reached at (734)432-5541 during
regular business hours.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this matter.
Sincerely,
Osvaldo Rivera
Director, Office of Multicultural Affairs