Laney College is proud to join the U.S. Congress in celebrating Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (or AANAPISI) Week. AANAPISIs are colleges and universities whose enrollment is at least 10% Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) students, and at least 50% need-based financial aid recipients. Through federal grants, AANAPISIs are funded to provide support and retention programs for low-income AAPIs and other groups, who face huge disparities in educational attainment. Laney was awarded a five-year AANAPISI Title III Part F Grant in 2010 and a five-year AANAPISI Title III Part A Grant in 2016.
38.3% of Laotian, 38.2% of Cambodian, and 36% of Hmong adults, for example, do not have a high school diploma, compared to just 18.5% of total adults in California. Additionally, only 5.2% of Micronesians and fewer than 15% of Fijians, Bhutanese, and Samoans have bachelor’s degrees, compared to 21% of total adults in California. But, research shows that students placed into learning communities supported by services are more likely to graduate; that is why Laney has excellent English language and success services programs working for our students.
Laney College is devoted to supporting low-income AAPI students and all students of color in enrolling in, succeeding, and graduating college on time. President Tammeil Gilkerson and Mike Lok, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates East Bay Chapter, will host a press conference with AAPI elected officials at 2PM on Tuesday, September 24th, in the Laney College Quad. Speakers include:
- Dr. Tammeil Gilkerson, President, Laney College
- Dr. Rowena Tomaneng, President Berkeley City College
- Dr. Mildred Lewis, Dean, Laney College
- Dr. David Lee, Director, AANAPISI Program
- Mike Lok, OCA – East Bay Chapter
Laney College students will be sharing their stories on how the AANAPISI program has affected their careers.
The press conference honors AANAPISI Week, September 23-27, and emphasizes the importance of the Senate’s vote to continue federal funding for AANAPISIs and other minority-serving institutions through the FUTURE Act.
“The bipartisan FUTURE Act is imperative for getting our nation’s poorest, particularly immigrant and first-generation students to and through college. The Senate needs to do its job and vote on MSI funding before it runs out this month,” said Rita Pin Ahrens, OCA National Executive Director. “Voting yes NOW for the FUTURE Act as we celebrate HBCU Week, HSI Week, AANAPISI Week, and National Tribal College Week throughout the months of September and October sends a strong message of support and celebration of America’s growing diversity.”
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