1. Higher Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions Reported Extensive Facility and Digital Infrastructure Needs. Report to Congressional Committees. GAO-24-106162
- Author
-
US Government Accountability Office (GAO) and Melissa Emrey-Arras
- Abstract
Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) play a prominent role in the nation's higher education system. For example, 574 HSIs enrolled over 2 million Hispanic students in the 2021-2022 school year, representing 60 percent of all Hispanic students in college. Like most colleges, HSIs must continue to invest in their facilities and digital infrastructure to serve their students safely and effectively. A 2021 House report includes a provision for the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the infrastructure needs--both physical and digital--at HSIs. This report describes HSIs': (1) facility needs; (2) digital infrastructure needs; and (3) funding sources for capital projects. To conduct this work, GAO surveyed a representative sample of HSIs in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico) and received generalizable responses from 169 colleges. GAO also analyzed the most recent HSI data on college student and institutional characteristics (2021-2022), finances (2020-2021), HSI grant programs (2017-2022), and COVID relief funds (2021). GAO also visited 10 HSIs--selected to capture different sizes, sectors (public or private nonprofit), and geographic regions--and interviewed Education officials and HSI organizations. In addition, GAO reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance.
- Published
- 2024