Alliance Promotes Minority Colleges

Four dozen California colleges have joined a new Washington, D.C.-based public policy alliance aimed at raising the profile of minority colleges.

The Alliance for Equity in Higher Education is calling for greater funding for institutions that serve large populations of minority students, and plans to research and publicize the role of such colleges in economic development.

These institutions “provide access to college for people who might not otherwise have it,” said Jamie Merisotis, president of the nonprofit Institute for Higher Education Policy, which is coordinating the alliance.

The alliance includes three large national organizations representing black, Latino and Native American colleges, as well as 321 member colleges. Among the California members are Cal State L.A., East Los Angeles College, Compton College and Long Beach City College.