HACU Student Programs Overview

Thanks for your interest in the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) and its student programs. HACU currently offers the following programs for college-level students.

Click here to view and print the the latest Guide to HACU Student Programs

HACU Scholarship Programs - Click here to apply!

The scholarship programs administered by HACU are made possible due to generous contributions from corporate and federal organizations.

To be eligible to apply for one of HACU’s scholarships, students must be attending a HACU Member or Partner college or university (visit http://www.hacu.net/ for a complete listing) and meet all additional criteria for the program to which they are applying. HACU uses one scholarship application for the several different programs it administers. Program criteria will vary based on the requirements of the funding organization, e.g., specific major, level of study, college/university, region of the country, etc. Scholarship amounts also vary depending on the program, usually ranging from $500 - $2,000 per year.

Scholarships materials are sent to the Financial Aid Office at HACU Member and Partner colleges and universities and also to other contacts HACU has at its member institutions. Scholarship applications for the 2012-2013 academic year are now closed. Applications for the 2013-2014 academic year will be available at scholarships.hacu.net in spring 2013 and can be completed on-line. You may also contact scholarship@hacu.net for more information.

Southwest Airlines’ Travel Award Program

Through “Dándole Alas a Tu Éxito/Giving Flight To Your Success,” Southwest Airlines will provide round trip tickets to students with socioeconomic need who travel away from home to pursue a higher education. Students must submit a transcript and certificate of enrollment from the university that they are attending. More information regarding the online application, eligibility criteria and deadlines for the travel award program is now available on HACU’s Web site by clicking here.

For more information, please e-mail: development@hacu.net.

HACU Study Abroad Scholarship Programs

HACU has partnered with several study abroad providers to provide scholarships for students at HACU member institutions to participate in a number of programs around the world. In addition to the scholarship, a student can ordinarily apply federal financial aid (Pell Grant, Stafford Loan, and PLUS loan) toward this study abroad program.

HACU-Global Learning Semesters Program: Hispanic Study Abroad Scholars
Global Learning Semesters (GLS) will offer one student nominated from each HACU member institution a $1000 scholarship for eligible participants in one of their 35 study abroad opportunities. See http://www.studyabroadscholars.org/ for more information on their unique set of offerings.

HACU-AIFS Scholarship Program – Apply by March 15 for summer session, by April 15 for academic year/fall quarter/fall semester, or by October 1 for spring quarter/spring semester!
The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)-HACU program will provide scholarships of up to 50% of the full program fee to study at Richmond, the American International University in London, England. Students will gain work experience as part of a special internship program where they will be placed with an international company in their field of interest. The program is available during the summer and both fall and spring semesters. For additional information: call (800) 727-2437, ext. 5163 (toll-free), or e-mail college.info@aifs.com.

HACU-IES Scholarship Program
The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES)-HACU program will provide five awards of $1,000 to HACU member institution students, and there will be one award of $2,500 each semester. IES is one of the nation’s oldest, largest, and most reputable study abroad providers. IES Abroad is a growing Chicago-based, not-for-profit organization that enrolls more than 5,000 students annually. For additional information, contact Jenise Holloway at 800-995-2300 or jholloway@iesabroad.org.

Annual Conference Scholarships

In addition to our general scholarship programs, HACU also has opportunities for students to attend our Annual Conference, held in the fall. There are two ways students attending HACU Member and Partner colleges and universities may be considered for this opportunity. “Student Conference Scholarships” pay for the student’s conference registration, travel, lodging, and meals with conference-sponsored events. The “Student Ambassador” program enables HACU-member colleges and universities to sponsor students to attend HACU’s Annual Conference. Applications for both programs are posted on HACU’s Web site as they become available. You may also contact studenttrack@hacu.net for more information.

HACU National Internship Program (HNIP)

College-level students looking for an internship opportunity may want to consider applying to HNIP. HNIP is HACU’s largest student program, placing hundreds of students each year in paid federal and corporate internships throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Additional HNIP information including an application may be obtained through HNIP’s Web site at http://www.hacu.net/hnip.

Click here for results of a 2007 independent study of HNIP's success!

HACU Alumni Association

Past participants of HACU student programs, including former HNIP interns, scholarship recipients, conference student track attendees, are invited to be part of the HACU Alumni Association. Membership is free and provides the opportunity to keep up with HACU doings and network with fellow alumni. DC area alums are active in periodic volunteer projects. For more information, click here.

ProTalento Latino: The HACU Resume Database for Hispanic Professionals (formerly SEED--Supporting Employment and Educational Development Program)

Post your resume to this on-line database and give employers a chance to look you over. It's free--and easy. Help employers become more diverse and create a workforce of tomorrow that looks more like us! Click here for more information.

My College Options

Developed by professionals at the National Research Center for College & University Admissions with almost 40 years of experience in linking high school students with colleges and universities, My College Options® connects students to 2,000 colleges and universities nationwide and has almost 5.5 million students already enrolled. This unique system of matching students with the colleges and universities that are right for them will play a large role in helping students reach their postsecondary goals.

For additional student-related information that may be of interest, consult HACU’s Scholarship Resource List.