MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

This issue of The Voice of Hispanic Higher Education highlights a variety of virtual activities that HACU and its members have participated in during this challenging pandemic. Highlights include a recap from one of our most important legislative events, the 25th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education, held virtually on April 21-22, 2020. We were pleased with the participation of everyone who joined the virtual and teleconference visits with congressional offices and advocated for Hispanic-Serving Institutions and their campuses, especially during this new normal.

While the Capitol Forum marked the first online event for us, we plan to expand the use of the virtual platform this fall when we host our premier conference on Hispanic higher education. For the safety of everyone involved, the 34th Annual Conference “Championing Hispanic Higher Education: Fostering Excellence and Social Justice,” and its pre- and post-conference events will be held virtually. We plan to offer our regular lineup of events, and workshops, including a virtual exhibitor experience. We look forward to your virtual participation in our 2020 Annual Conference events this October.

A special welcome to all our new members and new presidents and CEOs of higher education institutions that are featured in the member news section. Congratulations also to the summer interns of the HACU National Internship Program. More than 200 undergraduate and graduate students completed virtual internships with federal agencies across the country.

In this issue, we also feature four institutions who are using their Title V and federal grants to make a positive impact for students on their campuses. Grant funding has made it possible for Montclair State University to improve STEM literacy for non-STEM majors and Hispanic students. The University of New Mexico-Taos is helping underserved students and establishing a new natural resources program. California Lutheran University is working towards increasing transfer, retention and degreecompletion rates of Hispanic students. And Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology is expanding student involvement in STEM-related community outreach activities.

Please continue sending your student success stories made possible with federal grant funding for HSIs to news@hacu.net. These stories are regular features in our quarterly issues of our magazine. They are the best example of grant funded programs at our member institutions and the difference that they make on students’ lives. We hope you enjoy this issue of our magazine, and that you and yours stay healthy and safe.

Cordially,

Antonio R. Flores President and CEO