Thanks Bill,
Maybe either tomorrow or next Tuesday morning we can talk about
strategizing for the Legislative Day, June 7th and tie up any loose
ends. Thanks to you guys for setting it up. Have a great weekend.
Ozzie
________________________________
From: Retention & Graduation Issues Concerning Minorities in Higher
Education [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of William Robinson,
Jr.
Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2005 1:30 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: letter to Governor Granholm
Ozzie Rivera: Appreciate getting your concise and cogent letter to
Governor Granholm. It succinctly reflects our discussions at recent
conferences & meetings on key concerns and the connection between the
KCP Initiative and the Cherry Commission's Report.
WR
Osvaldo Rivera wrote:
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
P.O. Box 30013
Lansing , MI 48909
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 Michigan . A number of us testified before Commission
hearings, I being one of them. We were especially delighted with your
enthusiastic support of that report.
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
