Summit on the Status of Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian Americans in Higher Education

Friday, May 18, 2001
Washington, D.C.

General information on the summit:

• Sponsors
• Purpose of the Summit
• Background Information
• Coordinating Committee

Information for PARTICIPANTS only:

• Summit Information Sheet
• Agenda
• Hotel Room List
• Participant List
• Information Resources

Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
The College Board
Office of Insular Affairs, U.S. Department of Interior
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center
State Farm®
Kamehameha Schools
University of Guam
UNCF/Gates Millennium Scholars Program

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• To provide a forum to discuss the challenges facing the Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian American communities in higher education.
• To create an action plan and make recommendations for policymakers in government, higher education institutions, and research organizations based on the findings of the summit.
• To build a network and foundation for a pipeline for Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian American scholars.

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Misconceptions continue to persist regarding Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in higher education, especially regarding their academic achievement or fields of study. Misrepresentations can have serious consequences for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans, as they are often excluded as an under- represented minority group in higher education or are not recognized as a group encompassing many subpopulations that each have specific needs.

Out of concerns about the ramifications of such misperceptions, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus held a forum on January 21, 2000. In discussing the treatment of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans by federal officials, universities, colleges, and institutions charged with effecting policy in higher education, panelists agreed that general misconceptions about Asian and Pacific Islander Americans ignore the diversity that exists within the community.

Such diversity is illustrated by the different educational needs of the various subpopulations. Groups such as Pacific Islanders and Southeast Asian Americans have not achieved the academic success as other groups within the Asian and Pacific Islander American community. Apart from dismal social statistics which are comparable if not worse than other groups, these communities are under represented in higher education.

The organizers of the summit would like to continue this discussion with a focus on the status of Pacific Islander and Southeast Asian Americans in higher education. A coordinating committee consisting of Asian and Pacific Islander American scholars has been established to provide guidance on the planning and coordination of the summit, which will be held on May 18, 2001.

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Southeast Asian Scholars

1. Dr. Khatharya Um
   Assistant Professor
   University of California
   Department of Comparative Ethnic Studies
   506 Barrows Hall
   Berkeley, CA 94720-2570

   Phone: (510) 643-0796, (510) 642-2199
   Fax: (510) 642-6456
   Email: umk@uclink4.berkeley.edu

2. Dr. Paoze Thao
   Associate Professor
   Center for Collaborative Education and Professional Studies
   California State University, Monterey Bay
   100 Campus Center
   Seaside, California 93955-8001

   Phone: (831) 582-3762
   Fax: (831) 582-3356
   Email: paoze_thao@monterey.edu

3. Mr. Prany Sananikone
   Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity
   University of California at Irvine
   524 Administration Building
   Irvine, California 92697

   Phone: (949) 824-4549
   Fax: (949) 824-2112
   Email: psananik@uci.edu

4. Dr. Hung Manh Nguyen
   Department of Public and International Affairs George Mason University
   MSN-3F4, 4400 University Drive
   Fairfax, Virginia 22030

   Phone: (703) 993-2957
   Fax: (703) 993-1399
   Email: hnguyen@wpgate.gmu.edu

Pacific Islander Scholars

1. Dr. Velma Sablan
   Associate Professor of Education
   College of Education
   The University of Guam
   UOG Station
   Mangilao, Guam 96923

   Phone: (671) 735-2411/2398 (w)
   Fax: (671) 734-3651
   Email: sablanva@ite.net

2. Dr. Hamilton McCubbin
   Chief Executive Officer
   Kamehameha Schools
   567 South King Street, Suite 200
   Honolulu, Hawaii 96813
   or P.O. Box 3466, Honolulu, HI 96801

   Phone: (808) 523-6318 (direct)
   Fax: (808) 523-6313
   Email: hamccubb@ksbe.edu

3. Dr. J. Kehaulani Kauanui
   Center for the Americas
   Wesleyan University
   255 High Street
   Middletown, Connecticut 06457

   Phone: (860) 685-3768
   Fax: (860) 685-2985
   Email: jkauanui@wesleyan.edu

4. Dr. Victor Thompson
   Coordinator of Support Services
   Student Services Department
   Paramount Unified School District
   15110 So. California Avenue
   Paramount, CA 90723

   Phone: (562) 602-6035
   Fax: (562) 663-1349
   Email: vthompson@msn.com

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