Federal Highway Administration

Fiscal Year 2004 Annual Federal Performance Report
On Executive Agency Actions to Assist Hispanic Serving Institutions

Executive Summary

This year we only received formal requests from the White House Initiatives Office for the Fiscal Year 2004 Annual Performance Reports for HBCUs and TCUs. This HSI report is for informational purposes only. This report outlines strategies that the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has implemented to increase the participation of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs) in federally sponsored programs.

The goals and measurable objectives the FHWA sought to achieve during FY 2004 were to: (1) increase the number of highway research, development and technology contracts, grants and cooperative agreements awarded to HSIs; (2) increase the number of HSI students pursuing transportation careers by participating in programs such as the Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowship Program and maintaining/expanding the number of HSIs sponsoring a Summer Transportation Institute; and (3) establish a partnership in every State or Territory where a HSI is located. Below are brief descriptions of the goal and measurable objectives for Fiscal Year 2004.

Description of Goal and Measurable Objectives

#1: Increase the number of highway research, development and technology contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements awarded to HSIs

In view of the FHWA's commitment to ensure greater participation by HSIs in highway research, development, and technology contracts and grants, some of the activities under this category include the following:

• Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) - The purpose of the LTAP Program is to provide the transfer of highway technology and technical assistance to rural and local governments. The LTAP centers conduct a variety of activities that include a communication center that links local highway agencies, tribal governments, States, universities, and the Federal Government. The centers assist the entities served by providing information and training on road operations and maintenance.

  The New Mexico LTAP has been asked by the Navajo Nation Department of Transportation to provide training to its members and the Arizona LTAP and Utah LTAP have expressed interest in developing joint training programs with NM State University LTAP.

• Entrepreneurial Development Institutes (EDI) - The EDI Program provides training and technical assistance to disadvantaged businesses to enhance their capability to obtain highway construction and related contracts.

  Fiscal Year	College/University	Activity	Award
  2004	Northern New Mexico Community College	Contract Training	$18,302
  2004	New Mexico State University	Bridge Center	$147,645

#2: Increase the number of HSI students pursuing transportation careers by participating in programs such as the Dwight David Eisenhower Fellowship Program; and maintain/expand the number of HSIs sponsoring a Summer Transportation Institute

• Dwight David Eisenhower Transportation Fellowship Program - This program provides grants to encourage the pursuit of transportation education and research among university students and select faculty. For FY 2004, the FHWA administered Eisenhower Fellowship to the following six HSIs:

  Fiscal Year	College/University	Activity	Award
  2004	Texas A&M University - Kingsville	Fellowship	$14,643
  2004	University of Puerto Rico - Mayaguez	Fellowship	$65,100
  2004	University of Texas - El Paso	Fellowship	$64,200
  2004	California State University - Los Angeles	Fellowship	$40,000
  2004	Texas Christian University	Fellowship	$4,615
  2004	University of Texas - San Antonio	Fellowship	$55,380

   

• Student Tuition Assistance, Scholarships, and Other Aid - Federal funds awarded to an institution of higher education for students or awarded directly to students for payment of such charges as tuition and room and board. Following are two examples of student assistance provided at HSIs.

  Fiscal Year	Colleges/Universities	Activity	Award
  2004	University of New Mexico	Grant Tuition	$18,804
  2004	University of Texas - El Paso	Tuition Assistance	$19,346

   

• National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI)- This 4 to 5-week program is designed to encourage and motivate youth to pursue transportation careers. In FY 2004, FHWA awarded $2,000,000 to the National Summer Transportation Institute (NSTI) Program and had 44 institutions serve as host sites. Of the 44 institutions serving as host sites, nine were HSIs. The following table indicates the number of HSIs, and the total number of colleges/universities, and students who participated in the NSTI program for FYs 2003 and 2004.

  Fiscal Year	Number of Colleges/Universities	Number of HSIs	Number of Students
  2003	40	7	700
  2004	44	9	800

   

#3: Establish a partnership in every State or Territory where a HSI is located

The goal of the partnerships is to forge better, ongoing relationships with each HSI. Since 1991, the FHWA has signed partnership agreements with four HSIs. It is through these agreements that HSIs are provided technical assistance, curriculum development, and exchanges of staff and resources.

FY Annual Performance Awards

In FY 2003, HSIs were awarded $1,448,052, compared to $ 4,155,440 awarded in FY 2004, an increase of $2,707,388.

Summary

The FHWA HSI program goals and objectives outlined above were developed to meet the requirement of the Executive Order 13230. Moreover, they support the Garrett A. Morgan Technology and Transportation Futures Program (GAMTTFP). The GAMTTFP is a National education initiative built on partnerships with the transportation and education communities.

In FY 2004, a total of 82 Eisenhower Fellowships were provided to students at Minority Institutions of Higher Education compared to 65 in FY 2003, a 26% increase, with six fellowships to students at HSIs. For FY 2005, FHWA will continue to place additional emphasis on increasing the number of fellowship awards at HSIs.

The University of Texas - San Antonio received $39,413 to train individuals in the Real Work Scholars program. To date, the FHWA has established partnerships with four HSIs. Specifically, the report overall shows that the FHWA continues to focus on expanding opportunities for HSIs in three categories -- Partnerships, Human Resources, and Grants and Contracts.

The FHWA continues to publicize the successes and awards of the Summer Transportation Institutes, Cooperative Education efforts, Fellowships, and other forms of student employment.

SUMMARY OF FY04 AGENCY AWARDS BY CATEGORY

1. Agency/Organization Federal Highway Administration

2. Name, Title, Phone, Fax, and email address of agency representative preparing report:

Frederick D. Isler - Associate Administrator for Civil Rights

Phone: 202-366-0693 Fax: 202-366-1599

E-Mail: FrederickD.Isler@fhwa.dot.gov

3. FY-04 Total Funding for all institutions of higher education (IHE): $106,633,936

Mary E. Peters, Administrator		February 15, 2005
Agency Head (Typed)	Agency Head (Signature)	Date