WASHINGTON – During a Capitol Hill briefing and panel discussion with congressional leaders, Excelencia in Education today released the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation-funded white paper “Using A Latino Lens To Reimagine Aid Design And Delivery.” Excelencia in Education is America’s premier thought leader on Latinos in higher education and the only Latino-focused organization among the 16 selected by the Gates Foundation to inform their national discussion about redesigning federal financial aid.

“Federal financial aid is currently structured with traditional students in mind, but post-traditional students are a growing proportion of those seeking college degrees,” said Deborah Santiago, Excelencia in Education’s vice president for policy and research, and author of the white paper. “What if aid policy changed to serve post-traditional students rather than trying to force students to fit into a decreasingly relevant traditional profile? Using the profile of America’s young and growing Latino population as the baseline, rather than the footnote, to define the post-traditional student, we are providing a fresh perspective on financial aid policy for all students.”

Excelencia in Education’s research demonstrates that Latinos are more likely to be post-traditional students who, for example, enroll at a community college, take courses part-time while working, study online and at multiple institutions, live off-campus with family, and take more than four years to complete a degree. Therefore, by examining financial aid through a Latino lens, policymakers can redesign a federal financial aid system that is more relevant and effective for students of all backgrounds.

“With Latino students entering our nation’s colleges and universities in record numbers, we must ensure that our nation’s federal financial aid policies meet their needs,” said Rep. Rubén Hinojosa (Texas), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. “I thank Excelencia in Education for hosting this informative briefing on federal financial aid policy.”

“Our national financial aid system must reflect the reality of the students it is intended to serve,” said Rep. Raúl Grijalva (Arizona), Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Education Task Force. “Latino students are vital to that equation, and this research also demonstrates how looking at the system through their eyes can lead to better financial aid solutions for all.”

“Education is part of the Infrastructure of Opportunity that enables Americans to pursue their dreams,” said Rep. Joaquin Castro (Texas). “It is critical that we review and improve federal financial aid policies that reflect the needs of all of today’s students, recognizing that Latinos have the fastest growing enrollment in higher education.”

“Excelencia in Education has long made the strong case that we must increase college completion among Latinos for America to succeed economically in the future and meet President Obama’s 2020 goal of world leadership in college degrees,” said Rep. Joe Garcia (Florida). “This latest contribution also clearly shows how better understanding and incorporating the Latino experience can strengthen the for all students.”

In its white paper, Excelencia in Education makes the case that federal financial aid policy should be reimagined and redesigned based on the following principles:

· Efficiency in serving traditional students today can limit effectiveness in serving a majority of students tomorrow.
· Prioritize access for low-income students with financial aid and compliment with incentives to complete.
· Effective financial aid policy requires more than funding.
· Transparency of information on federal financial aid requires strategic outreach and engagement for maximum effectiveness.

“As this white paper demonstrates, by understanding the data from a research-based perspective that recognizes America’s growing population of Latino students as an asset to our nation, we are informing and transforming the conversation about improving financial aid to accelerating college completion,” said Sarita Brown, president of Excelencia in Education.

To download the complete white paper, “Using A Latino Lens To Reimagine Aid Design And Delivery,” visit: http://edexcelencia.org

Excelencia in Education is a national, non-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate Latino student success in higher education