Nevada Members of Congress, NSHE Lead Symposium on Nevada Minority, Hispanic-Serving Institutions

North Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Rep. Susie Lee (Nev.-03) joined a symposium with Rep. Dina Titus (Nev.-01), Rep. Steven Horsford (Nev.-04), and Nevada System of Higher Education Chancellor Dr. Thom Reilly to discuss policies for southern Nevada's Minority and Hispanic-Serving Institutions (MSI, HSI). Rep. Lee highlighted the unique obstacles faced by students from low-income backgrounds, and the comprehensive policies needed to expand education opportunities for every southern Nevada student.

"With our state's growing diversity, we need to support policies that address the unique challenges that our minority students face," said Rep. Lee. "If we want our students to succeed, our higher education system must be culturally relevant, provide increased access, and more student support for our minority and low-income students, many of whom are first generation higher education students. Minority-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving Institutions understand these nuances and how they affect communities of color, making them a crucial partner in our fight to make education a national priority. So long as I am in Congress, I will work with our MSIs and HSIs to advocate for policies that will help every southern Nevada student succeed."

BACKGROUND: The University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Nevada State College, and the College of Southern Nevada are all MSIs and HSIs that enroll a disproportionately high percentage of low-income, minority, and first-generation students. UNLV is also an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and has been ranked as the most diverse university in the country for three years in a row, tied with Rutgers University, by U.S. News and World Report.

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