This resolution (H.Res.749) expresses support for recognizing September 22-28, 2025 as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week. It notes that the AANAPISI program was originally authorized in 2007 by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and marks 2025 as the 18th anniversary of the program’s establishment.
The measure references the program’s reach: dozens of institutions have been funded or are eligible across the United States and its territories. Importantly, the resolution does not authorize funding or impose mandates; it simply designates a week and encourages observances and engagement with the aims of AANAPISI institutions.
The language underscores the institutions’ role in serving a large portion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander students, many from low-income and first-generation backgrounds, and calls on observers to recognize their contributions.
At a Glance
What It Does
Designates a week (Sept 22-28, 2025) to be observed in recognition of AANAPISI institutions and expresses support for observing that week.
Who It Affects
AANAPISI-eligible colleges and universities and their campus communities, including students, faculty, and staff, as well as communities connected to these institutions.
Why It Matters
Highlights the contributions of historically underrepresented institutions and signals a policy interest in diversity and access within higher education.
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What This Bill Actually Does
The measure is a ceremonial resolution that signals congressional recognition of Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions Week. It cites the legislative lineage of the AANAPISI program, originally authorized in 2007, and notes the program’s growth and impact across the United States and its territories.
The document emphasizes the way AANAPISI institutions enroll a disproportionate share of AA, NH, and PI undergraduates and deliver culturally relevant programming that supports retention and graduation. There is no appropriation or new obligation attached to the resolution; rather, it encourages eligible institutions to pursue appropriate funding and to develop or sustain programs that address the needs of these students and communities.
The overall thrust is to celebrate and raise awareness of AANAPISI institutions’ role in expanding access and improving outcomes for a diverse student population.
The Five Things You Need to Know
The resolution designates September 22-28, 2025 as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week.
It expresses support for observing the week and for institutions to observe with appropriate activities.
The AANAPISI program was originally authorized in 2007 by the College Cost Reduction and Access Act.
As of 2024-25, 69 AANAPISI institutions are funded or have been funded.
No new funding is authorized by the measure; it encourages observation and exploration of funding options.
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Designation of AANAPISI Week
The resolution designates a specific week—September 22-28, 2025—as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institutions Week and invites public and institutional observances to recognize the contributions of AANAPISI institutions across the United States and its territories.
Background and Purpose of AANAPISI
The document references the AANAPISI program’s authorization in 2007 under the College Cost Reduction and Access Act and frames the week as a commemorative observance intended to highlight the program’s goals of expanding access and improving postsecondary outcomes for AA, NH, and PI students.
Institutional Impact and Demographics
The resolution notes that AANAPISI institutions enroll significant shares of undergraduates from Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, including many first-generation and low-income students, and that the sector contributes to culturally relevant curricula and student support services.
Encouragement to Seek Funding and Programs
Although no funding is appropriated, the measure encourages eligible AANAPISI institutions to pursue funding opportunities and to establish programs that address the unique needs of AANAPISI students and their families and communities.
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Who Benefits
- AANAPISI-serving institutions’ leadership and staff, who gain recognition that can support outreach and program development
- Students at AANAPISI campuses, particularly first‑generation and low‑income students, who benefit from strengthened programs and supportive campus environments
- Faculty and administrators focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion, who can leverage the observance to advance inclusive practices
- Higher education policymakers and campus consortia that prioritize minority-serving institutions and access
Who Bears the Cost
- Institutions that choose to observe the week may incur minor administrative or event-related costs from existing budgets (no new funding is provided)
- State and territorial education agencies that coordinate observances may face modest administrative tasks
- Community partners and student organizations that participate in activities may incur time and resource commitments without new funding in the bill
Key Issues
The Core Tension
The central dilemma is whether ceremonial recognition alone meaningfully advances the goals of access, retention, and success for AANAPISI students, or whether sustained improvement requires dedicated funding and structural supports that the bill does not provide.
The bill’s strength is in symbolic recognition, which can mobilize attention to AANAPISI institutions and generate goodwill for diversity and inclusion. However, because it does not authorize funding or mandate specific actions, the practical impact hinges on how institutions and policymakers translate observance into resource allocation and program development.
The absence of dedicated funding or performance metrics means that the week’s effects depend on voluntary observance, campus leadership, and external partnerships, potentially creating uneven benefits across institutions and communities.
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