Applications Open for Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans Program
Recently, the Department of Education issued a notice inviting applications for the Promoting Postbaccalaureate Opportunities for Hispanic Americans (PPOHA) program. Absolute priority will be given to applications that can expand the number of Hispanic and other underrepresented graduate students by expanding courses and institutional resources. Estimated available funds for Fiscal Year 2022 is $5.9 million, with the estimated average size of awards being $550,000. Eligible applicants are institutes of higher education that offer a postbaccalaureate certificate or degree program and qualify as an eligible Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The deadline for applications is July 28.
The Administration and 117th Congress have recognized the importance of increased funding for Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI). Funding for the PPOHA program has increased 53 percent since FY 2020 and the Administration proposed a $9.1 million increase in its FY 2023 budget request. Hispanic-serving institutions recently formed the Hispanic Serving Research Universities Alliance with the goal of doubling the number of Hispanic doctoral students and increasing Hispanic faculty by 20 percent by 2030. Inside Higher Ed reported on the new group, noting that Hispanics are 17 percent of the U.S. workforce but fewer than 6 percent of doctoral students nationwide.