FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 7, 2000 Contact: Ivonne Cuarro (202) 606-2402 OPM Director Donates Job Information Computer Kiosk to University of Puerto Rico in Carolina Lachance Will Receive Award from National Image for Efforts to Improve Representation of Hispanics in the Federal Workforce

Rio Grande, Puerto Rico U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Janice R. Lachance today said that the representation of Hispanics in the federal workforce has increased at a faster pace during the Clinton/Gore Administration, compared to the previous Administration. In addition, since OPM launched a government-wide Nine-Point Plan to improve the representation of Hispanics in the federal workforce, the number of Hispanic hires in federal agencies has escalated.

Lachance, President Clintons top human resources official, delivered a keynote speech during the Opening Ceremonies of the 28^th National Image Training Conference and Convention, which was held in the Westin Riomar hotel, in Rio Grande. National Image is the third largest Hispanic organization in the United States.

During the Clinton/Gore Administration, Hispanic representation went up from 5.6 percent in 1993 to 6.4 percent in 1999 -- a percentage increase which doubles the percentage change in the five years before the current Administration. In addition, the representation of Hispanics in the top levels of government, the Senior Executive Service, almost doubled.

Moreover, since Director Lachance launched the Nine-Point Plan in 1997, Executive Departments and federal agencies have been hiring Hispanics employees at a higher rate. Some of these agencies have been hiring at a rate of 9 percent or higher in 1999, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Department of Labor, the Department of Treasury, the Department of Justice, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

"I am fully committed to fulfilling President Clintons challenge to create a government that looks like America," Lachance said.

According to 1999 data, Hispanics represent 6.4 percent of the federal workforce and 11.4 percent of the civilian labor force.

"We are hiring Hispanics at high rates at all levels of government, but there is still work to be done to narrow the gap between the representation of Hispanics in the Federal workforce and that in the civilian labor force," Lachance said.

After her delivery at the Image Conference, Lachance visited the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina where she donated a Federal Employment Information/Touch Screen Computer Kiosk. Lachance was joined by Norman Maldonado, President of the University of Puerto Rico; Juan Sepulveda, Rector of the University of Puerto Rico in Carolina; and OPMs Deputy Director John Sepulveda during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The touch screen computer kiosk initiative, which is part of OPMs government-wide Nine Point Plan, seeks to reach students from Hispanic-Serving Institutions across the nation. The kiosk provides information on over 15,000 job vacancies in the federal workforce worldwide, as well as on student employment opportunities and internships.

OPM, together with other federal agencies, has placed seven touch screen computer kiosks in universities in Puerto Rico. These include the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras and Mayaguez Campus; American University of Puerto Rico in Manati and Bayamon; Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in Ponce, and the Inter American University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras.

In addition, during the conference Lachance will be presented with the Image Executive Award for supporting partnership agreements, policies, and business practices that have enhanced the federal governments ability to recruit Hispanics. This is the third award that Lachance will receive from a national Hispanic organization for her efforts to improve the representation of Hispanics in the federal work force.

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Web page created 31 July 2000