“According to my interpretation of the proposal, this would open the doors to all institutions, and many of our schools are not in a position to be successful in competing with major research universities that already have records with NSF,” said Dr. Milton Gordon, president of California State University Fullerton and chair of the HACU governing board.
HACU President Antonio Flores said collaboration between HSIs and major research schools has been taking place prior to the proposed NSF consolidation.
“MSIs have a history of collaborating on a number of fronts, and NSF can foster that within the spirit of the law that calls for the creation of what had been set aside for HSIs,” Dr. Flores said. “It is possible to do what you want without integrating the funding.”
Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus expressed oral commitments to support HACU members in defeating the NSF proposal. HBCU leaders have made similar appeals to their congressional leaders.
Handing HACU’s legislative agenda to every lawmaker she met last Tuesday, Mojica said her institution needs NSF grants to involve her students in STEM research early and to increase graduate student opportunities.
“What alliances are going to be formed if there are no research and development programs and other universities soak up the money,” said Mojica, whose campus educates a fifth of all college-age students in Puerto Rico.
NSF officials said that the proposal is still in its infancy and that they welcome the participation of MSI leaders during listening sessions that are scheduled for the coming months.
“The program I’m defining is not the NSF program; it is the president’s budget that I am supporting and defending,” Bemet said during an HACU session. “I don’t know, once we get through the process, how it’s going to come out. We are still at an early stage and are working out all the details.”
Photo details: Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (right), D-Texas, speaks with HACU members during a meeting at his office on Capitol HIll. (photo by Arelis Hernandez)
