Folks -
After tomorrow, I'll be in NYC for a week (May 31 - June 4) hosting a
group of undergrads (we are using a grant to train them as anti-racism
group facilitators) at the NCORE conference, so I'll be out of the
talking/email loop for awhile. Nevertheless, I certainly intend to a
part of the KCP Legislative Day upon my return.
Tendaji
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Tendaji W. Ganges
Assistant to the Chancellor and
Executive Director
Educational Opportunity Initiatives
University of Michigan-Flint
University Center - Suite 280
303 East Kearsley Street
Flint, MI 48502-1950
Voice and Voice Mail: 810-762-3365
Facsimile: 810-762-3190
Email: [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
________________________________
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
