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

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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]

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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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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