"UC Berkeley may be missing out on opportunities for federal funding due to the campus's low population of Hispanic students.
Funding is available to what the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities classifies as Hispanic-serving Institutions, or institutions that have a Hispanic population of 25 percent or more, according to the association's Web site.
The organization also offers associate membership for campuses in which Hispanic students make up 10 percent of the student population.
While UC Berkeley does not meet the association's criteria for a Hispanic-serving classification, it does qualify for associate membership with an 11.9 percent Hispanic population in fall 2009.
After receiving membership, these institutions may petition the U.S. Department of Education for grants, said Melba Castro, UC Riverside director of First Year Success Programs.
While the number of incoming Hispanic freshmen at UC Berkeley increased to 1,299 in fall 2009-up 0.6 percent from 2008-Hispanic undergraduate enrollment has remained steady over the last five years.
Due to Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in California in 1996, UC Berkeley may not give preferential treatment based on race in order to increase minority enrollment, said campus spokesperson Janet Gilmore."
Funding is available to what the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities classifies as Hispanic-serving Institutions, or institutions that have a Hispanic population of 25 percent or more, according to the association's Web site.
The organization also offers associate membership for campuses in which Hispanic students make up 10 percent of the student population.
While UC Berkeley does not meet the association's criteria for a Hispanic-serving classification, it does qualify for associate membership with an 11.9 percent Hispanic population in fall 2009.
After receiving membership, these institutions may petition the U.S. Department of Education for grants, said Melba Castro, UC Riverside director of First Year Success Programs.
While the number of incoming Hispanic freshmen at UC Berkeley increased to 1,299 in fall 2009-up 0.6 percent from 2008-Hispanic undergraduate enrollment has remained steady over the last five years.
Due to Proposition 209, which banned affirmative action in California in 1996, UC Berkeley may not give preferential treatment based on race in order to increase minority enrollment, said campus spokesperson Janet Gilmore."