WHITE HOUSE INITIATIVE AND HSI DIRECTORY

The White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanic
Americans has incorporated in its webpage a directory of Hispanic
Serving Institutions (HSIs). Whereas in the past the White House Initiative
had only listed the names of the HSIs, the new directory includes useful
information like the telephone numbers, addresses, and degrees offered
by these institutions. You can find the directory in the Internet at:
www.ed.gov/offices/OIIA/Hispanic/hsi.html. (Make sure that you
capitalize the indicated letters in the webpage address).

EXCERPTS FROM THE NOVEMBER 19, 1998 MEETING OF THE COUNCIL
OF FEDERAL EEO AND CIVIL RIGHTS EXECUTIVES

GUEST SPEAKER

Andrew Strojny, from the U.S. Department of Justice's Civil
Rights Division, gave a presentation on Title VI that addressed
the following issues: What does Title VI require? What is
Federal financial assistance? What is a recipient? Who is the
beneficiary? Who is covered? What kinds of discrimination are
prohibited? How do you enforce Title VI? What are the
differences between Title VI and Title XI?

Mr. Strojny mentioned a newsletter, the Civil Rights Forum, that
has informative articles about civil rights issues. The Civil
Rights Forum is published quarterly by the U.S. Department of
Justice, Civil Rights Division, Coordination and Review Section.
People interested in having their names added to the distribution list of
this newsletter should send an e-mail to cor.crt@usdoj.gov .

Mr. Strojny also said a Title VI Legal Manual and a Title VI
Investigation Procedures Manual were available for viewing and
downloading on the Civil Rights Division's website at:
www.usdoj.gov/crt/grants_statutes/indexpg.htm.

Mr. Strojny indicated that donations by federal agencies of
surplus equipment to schools or other organizations are
covered by Title VI. Consequently, it is the federal agency that
donates the property that is responsible for ensuring under
Title VI that the recipient of that surplus computer or other surplus
property is not guilty of discrimination under a basis covered by Title VI.
To carry out their responsibilities, Mr. Strojny strongly suggested that, at
a minimum, federal agencies get a signed assurance of nondiscrimination
from recipients before the transfer of the surplus equipment is made.

Mr. Strojny mentioned that the Civil Rights Division's
Coordination and Review Section offers a 2-day Title VI training
course. The organizers of this course prefer to have at least
fifteen participants, but not more than thirty-five. The course is free,
but
agencies are responsible for the travel and per diem
expenses of instructors when the course is taught outside the
Washington, DC metropolitan area. The bad news is that this
course is booked through March 1999. However, if you would
like to request this course for your agency, you should write a
letter to: Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil
Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington,
DC 20530, and a carbon copy to Merrily Friedlander, Chief, Coordination
& Review Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S. Department of Justice, P.O.
Box 66560, Washington,
DC 20035-6560.

ELECTIONS

Charles Miller, from the Defense Logistics Agency and Chair of
the Council's Nominating Committee, monitored the election of
officers for the 1999-2000 term. Luther Santiful from the
Department of the Army was re-elected President. Jorge
Ponce from the Treasury Department was re-elected
Vice-Chair, and Delia Johnson from the U.S. Information Agency
was elected as the other Vice-Chair. Sharon Holmes became
Treasurer (the first time the Council has had one), and Deborah
Eyer, also from the Department of the Army, was elected
Secretary. Thanks to Charles, and to the other members of the
Nominating Committee (Amy Briggs from the Pension Benefit
Guarantee Corporation, and Levester Spearman from the Department of
Defense Education Activities) for a job well done.

{Special Thanks to Jorge PONCE}