AAHHE Statements

A Collective Statement on the SCOTUS Decision Regarding Race-Conscious College Admissions

October 11, 2023

The AAHHE joined the American Association of Blacks in Higher Education, American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education, NAACP, 100 Black Men, and the United Negro College Fund to write a collective statement on the SCOTUS decision regarding race-conscious college admissions. To read the statement, please click here.

Statement from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on the SCOTUS Decision on Race-Conscious College Admissions 

June 29, 2023

The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) denounces the United States Supreme Court’s ruling on June 29, 2023 against race-conscious college admissions effectively ending affirmative action. In a 6-3 ruling in the North Carolina case and a 6-2 ruling in the Harvard case, the Supreme Court found it unconstitutional to consider race broadly in university and college admissions. Given the current makeup of this Supreme Court, their ruling was sadly expected. However, this decision does uphold a higher standard set by the Grutter case that allows students to continue to express their racialized experiences in their admissions and scholarship materials, as well as allows institutions of higher education to consider such experiences among other criteria in alignment to their missions. The Supreme Court’s action today is another example of how power and privilege essentially erases the gains and efforts made to promote equal opportunity over the last 59 years, but it is also a reminder that our work for equal opportunity, access, equality and democracy must continue. 

As the days and weeks unfold, we should observe and be ready to address how policymakers and institutional leaders respond to this decision. We urge AAHHE members to reaffirm their commitment to diverse and inclusive learning environments, and to embrace core values of equity and justice for all, regardless of legal constraints. As members of the higher education community, we must remain vigilant, ready to mobilize and address the impact of this decision on racialized groups. More than ever, we must recommit to ensuring justice, equity, and inclusion in higher education.

The majority vote by the Supreme Court reflects their view that despite overriding legal precedent and evidence, they can declare that we are now in a race-neutral environment. While this may be so legally, it ignores racism and inequities that are experienced daily in this nation and throughout the education system.

We encourage each of you to lean into the AAHHE familia where we can gather, heal, and support each other through la lucha. 

Statement from the American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education on Governor Abbott's Memo Banning Diversity Initiatives in Texas Agencies and Higher Education 

February 14, 2023
The American Association of Hispanics in Higher Education (AAHHE) strongly opposes the recent memo written by Governor Abbott’s office that suggests Texas agencies and higher education institutions are violating hiring practices through their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. We believe that DEI initiatives are lawful, carefully deployed, and crucial in creating a more inclusive and equitable workplace and educational environment for all individuals, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, national origin, age, disability, or military status.

Discrimination has no place in the workplace, and we believe that DEI initiatives are essential in ensuring that all employees are treated with respect and dignity. Furthermore, research shows that a diverse workforce leads to increased creativity, innovation, and productivity.

Higher education has a critical role to play in promoting DEI initiatives and creating a culture of inclusiveness, and we are committed to continuing to work towards these goals.
We reject the notion that DEI initiatives lead to discrimination or favoritism, and instead view them as a means of promoting equality and fairness.

We believe that everyone should have access to equal opportunities and a workplace that values and respects their contributions. We stand with the hundreds of thousands of individuals employed by the State of Texas and will continue to advocate for the importance of DEI initiatives.

AAHHE Statement on End of Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month

October 20, 2022
With the close of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month this past weekend, we want to thank our members for the many events, symposium, workshops, presentations, and celebrations that occurred on college campuses and universities throughout the country to recognize the efforts and contributions that Latinx/a/o/é have made and are making to the nation and the world. This includes Latinx/a/o/é individuals, groups, and organizations made up of and represented by a rich tapestry of multicultural, multiracial, multiethnic, and non-binary identities, that represent our many communities and our many walks of life. We ALL contribute to advancing the Latinx/a/o/é diaspora and, ultimately, it is our collective commitment to nuestra comunidad that motivates us and fuels the AAHHE vision: to seek a radical shift in equity policies and leadership among higher education institutions to effectively address the needs of Latinx/a/o/é communities and empower us to strive for academic success, knowledge production, and artistic creation to advance social change that creates opportunities for all.

As we move towards the end of another year and towards AAHHE’s national conference in March 2023, hosted by the College of Southern Nevada, North Las Vegas Campus, we are inspired and encouraged daily by our membership and by the many AAHHE volunteers who give their time to lead and contribute to our governance, fellowship and leadership programs, webinars, workshops, symposiums, and our annual conference. While we make special effort to celebrate Latinx/a/o/é achievements during Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, we strive every day to achieve our mission to “support, and advance Latinx/a/o/é students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community members through higher education to participate, lead, and influence in our society.” And we could not do it without all of you, and we celebrate all of you year-round.

Patrick Valdez, PhD
AAHHE Chair

AAHHE statement on the overturning of Roe vs. Wade Decision

AAHHE Statement on Hispanic (Latinx) Heritage Month

September 15, 2021
For one month a year, our nation acknowledges the many contributions of the U.S. Hispanic (Latinx) community throughout Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15th – Oct. 15th). Most years we observe this month through a series of celebrations and commemorations to mark the independence of various national original groups across Latin America as well as Indigenous People’s Day. 

This year, AAHHE recognizes the many outstanding Hispanic/Latinx educators and higher education leaders across the nation laboring intently to support all students through one of the most challenging eras in modern times. The pandemic’s interruption of educational spaces has had a profound impact on all of us, especially those that were already marginalized or underserved by our educational systems. Let us honor our Hispanic/Latinx educators, including bilingual teachers, college counselors and advisors, student affairs administrators, faculty members, higher education administrators, and countless organizations and non-profits that are all committing their energy and expertise to help all students “catch up” and get back on track.

AAHHE as signatory on Joint Statement on Legislative Efforts to Restrict Education about Racism and American History

June 22, 2021
AAHHE has joined with PEN America, the American Historical Association, the American Association of University Professors, Association of American Colleges and Universities, and more than 100 other associations to state our firm opposition to a spate of legislative proposals being introduced across the country that target academic lessons, presentations, and discussions of racism and related issues in American history in schools, colleges, and universities.

As the statement rightly points out, "Americans of all ages deserve nothing less than a free and open exchange about history and the forces that shape our world today, an exchange that should take place inside the classroom as well as in the public realm generally".

You can visit the PEN America or the American Historical Association to read the statement.

AAHHE Statement on the Derek Chauvin’s Trial Verdict for the Murder of George Floyd: A History-Making Verdict

April 22, 2021

April 20th, 2021 will be marked as an historical moment in U.S. history with the multiple guilty verdict handed down in Minnesota. AAHHE welcomes the verdict, one that moves us a “step towards justice” for the brutal murder of George Floyd. But much more work remains for all of us. The verdict does not end racism and other injustices experienced by minoritized groups in this country. It seems like every week we learn about another Black person who has been assaulted or murdered by law enforcement officials. “Police in the U.S. killed 164 Black people in the first 8 months of 2020” was the headline of a CBS report. As educators and scholars, we must persist to engage in anti-racist education, dismantling systemic racism, and supporting #BlackLivesMatter. As a professional association, AAHHE is committed to advancing social justice through our mission for educational and scholarly endeavors. 

AAHHE Statement on Violence Against Asian-Americans
The Anti-Asian Racism Must Stop

March 19, 2021
The murders of 6 women of Asian descent in Atlanta on March 16th and the deaths of 7 Asian elders resulting from racist violence in 2021 are distressing.  Since 2020, there have been more than 4,000 incidents of anti-Asian racism reported. Many of our colleagues, friends, students and families are being victimized and living in fear.  

AAHHE speaks out against these crimes of racism in our institutions, communities, and society at-large. Let us be informed and speak out to stop the anti-Asian racism. 

We must all become more informed and share facts. For more information on the documented hate crimes collected by Stop AAPI Hate, please visit: https://stopaapihate.org/reports/.

AAHHE Calls for a Renewed Commitment to an Inclusive Democracy 

January 12, 2021
On January 6, the nation came under attack as domestic terrorists sought to disrupt a democratic process underway to confirm the election of Joseph Biden, Jr. as the 46th president of the United States. AAHHE condemns this violent behavior and the senseless destruction of the U.S. Capitol. The images of bravado and white nationalism exhibited by these terrorists will be vivid for many of us for years to come. However, we must take the lessons learned to move ahead with the new administration and its demonstration for inclusion of a diversity of new Cabinet members and high-ranking officials.

AAHHE applauds the President-Elect’s choices of Connecticut Education Commission Miguel Cardona as Secretary of Education and California Attorney General, Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Students need Latinx role models, individuals who are proud to serve but also value their cultural identity.

As a professional higher education association, AAHHE is committed to working with the new administration and will continue to provide leadership and advance opportunities for our Latinx students, faculty, and administrators to achieve their goals. We are also committed to promoting the values of collaboration, instilling the principles of serving the public good, and advancing the tenets of social justice through our professional development programs, annual conference, and partnerships with community-based organizations. We value our Latinidad and the contributions that come from the diversity of our membership. Adelente siempre!

Dr. Patricia Arredondo
Chair, Board of Directors