Introduction of the University of the District of Columbia Graduate Programs Act

Floor Speech

INTRODUCTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA GRADUATE PROGRAMS ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks - June 15, 2007)

* Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, today I introduce the University of the District of Columbia Graduate Programs Act that amends Section 326 of the Higher Education Act to provide federal Historically Black College and University (HBCU) grant funding to the qualified graduate programs at the University of the District of Columbia.

* The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) is the District's only public university and institution of higher learning. An open admission institution at the undergraduate level, the University has consistently and historically provided higher education opportunities to D.C. residents at low and affordable costs. The University justifiably prides itself on its vital role in educating the leaders of the next generation by producing theoretically sound and practically skilled graduates, ready to undertake careers in service in both the public and private sectors.

* UDC also is one of the Nation's oldest HBCUs, but the university did not receive federal funding as an HBCU until 1999. When Congress passed the District of Columbia College Access Act, I was able to convince Congress that the necessary complement to the College Access Act was long overdue HBCU funding because of the indispensable function of UDC for thousands of students for whom UDC was not only a choice, but the only practical option.

* Funding from the Historically Black Graduate Institutions (HBGIs) program will allow UDC to increase its production of skilled graduates in vital disciplines and jobs in which African Americans, Hispanics and others are underrepresented and to strengthen its graduate programs in occupations where there are shortages and jobs in our region. For example, the University has graduate degree programs in cancer biology prevention and control, early childhood education, mathematics, special education, and speech and language pathology, and other graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, the David A. Clarke School of Law, and the School of Business and Public Administration. A graduate curriculum is being developed in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences.

* I urge all of my colleagues to support this bill.

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