EPA's Jackson Uses MOUs to Reach Minority Students
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) designed to increase EPA’s outreach to minority and underserved communities, according to a Nov. 24 press release.
The two MOUs, one with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and the other with the Vermont Law School, will facilitate the flow of information between EPA and minority communities and further the teaching of environmental issues at colleges that serve minority students.
“To end the disproportionate environmental, health and economic burdens on underserved communities, we must expand the conversation on environmentalism and invite new leaders into this movement,” said Administrator Jackson. “The actions behind these MOUs will allow EPA to give a voice to communities that haven’t had a voice in the past and empower them to act on our nation’s most pressing environmental issues. Fostering more diversity and inclusion throughout EPA will allow us to better serve the broad environmental and health needs of all Americans.”
As part of the MOU signed with the Vermont Law School, the university has agreed to employ distance learning technology to give a wider range of students from Minority Academic Institutions access to its environmental law program.
The administrator also signed an MOU with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities that builds on EPA’s relationship with HACU to enhance partnerships with Hispanic Serving Institutions.