Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Education awarded approximately $10 million in grants to

six Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISI): City

College of San Francisco (CA), Foothill-De Anza Community College (CA), Guam Community College

(GU), Seattle Community College (WA), University of Hawaii at Hilo (HI), and University of Maryland-

College Park (MD).

These six schools are the first grant recipients of this historic program due to their

exceptional five-year plans that address the specific needs of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)

students.

Similar to other minority serving institution programs, the AANAPISI program seeks to increase the capacity of higher education institutions to better serve disadvantaged college students. Individual plans differ between the six awarded institutions from constructing a new resource center for AAPI students; to recruiting more AAPI students into science, engineering, technology and mathematics (STEM) fields; to strengthening an Asian American Studies Program; to developing more work-study opportunities that will support the retention of AAPI students, particularly those with financial needs. All six applications include outreach to their respective surrounding AAPI communities to encourage youth to pursue postsecondary education.

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) congratulates these six institutions on being the first to receive the AANAPISI grant. “The Asian American and Pacific Islander community is thrilled about the inauguration of the AANAPISI program,” says NCAPA Chair Floyd Mori, “NCAPA

organizations have been working closely with Congressman David Wu and CAPAC over several years in

advocating for passage, and we look forward to working collectively with institutions, federal agencies,

students and communities to ensure that the program will foster maximum benefits for AAPI students.”

The AANAPISI program was championed by Congressman David Wu (D-OR) and the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), as chaired by Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), into law in 2007. The Higher Education Opportunity Act expanded the program’s scope and extended the program to 2013.

Founded in 1996, the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) is a coalition of twenty-six organizations that advocate for the interests of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders on the national level. It is united by a vision that empowers and engages AAPI community members into the political and electoral process. For more information on NCAPA or to contact its member organizations, please call 202.223.1240.