OVERVIEW OF HACU PROGRAMS

LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS

PROFESSIONAL

La Academia de Liderazgo/Leadership Academy

La Academia de Liderazgo/ Leadership Academy is a one-year program designed to prepare the next generation of culturally diverse leaders for the ranks of executive and senior-level positions at institutions of higher learning.  Click here to retrieve the program brochure.  The program was created with the explicit purpose of increasing the number of talented individuals who will serve as presidents and chancellors of Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Emerging HSIs.  Fellows selected for the program participate in an array of leadership development activities that prepare them for leadership roles in the full spectrum of higher education institutions, but with a special focus on HSIs and Emerging HSIs. Applications and nominations to the program will be accepted each spring. 

Minimum participant selection requirements are:

• Professional Experience: At least 10 years of full-time higher education experience.
• Educational Background: Completion of at least a master’s degree.
• Supervisory Experience: Currently serving in a director or higher supervisory position or 6 years of of previous supervisor experience.

Please click here to download the application and follow all completion and submission instructions.  Application deadline is Friday, May 3,2024.

Annual Deans’ Forum on Hispanic Higher Education

The Annual Deans’ Forum on Hispanic Higher Education is an outstanding, half-day experience for faculty and staff who are currently serving in the role as a Dean or aspire to serve in this role at some point in their career.  The Deans’ Forum focuses on bringing diverse perspectives from renowned speakers who have hands on experience in implementing innovative and creative practices in educating Hispanic and other underrepresented minorities. Participants will engage in dialogue with our panel of experts and network and learn from each other. This event is a 1/2 day post conference event which occurs immediately after the HACU Annual Conference has concluded.  Please go to annual conference web page for registration instructions.

Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program

The Enlace Mid-Level Leadership Program is a six-month leadership development program for college and university professional personnel who are serving around the mid-level of their organizations.  Click here to retrieve the program brochure.  Mid-level leaders are defined as academic or non-academic support personnel within the structure of higher education organizations.  Examples include academic chairs and directors, student support directors, coordinators, and team leaders with current supervisor responsibilities.  This program is part of HACU's effort to execute its strategy to increase the number, variety, and quality of leadership development programs for our institutional members.    The program will be offered one time each year and will begin in October during the HACU Annual Conference and conclude in April during the Capital Forum.  Topics covered during the program include academic and student affairs management, regional institutional accreditation, diversity, equity, and inclusion, higher education advocacy, and personal interaction with our professional search firm partners.  

Minimum participant selection requirements are:

• Professional Experience: At least 5 years of full-time higher education experience.
• Educational Background: Completion of at least a bachelor’s degree.
• Supervisory Experience: Currently serving in a supervisory position or 2 years of of previous supervisor experience.

Please click here to download the application and follow all completion and submission instructions.  Application deadline is Friday, May 3,2024.

Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium

The Annual Women’s Leadership Symposium is an action packed, half-day event for women higher education professionals at all levels. This opportunity will help women explore, dialogue, and learn from other women in executive leadership positions on topics related to successfully navigating the higher education work environment, building a strategic network, and becoming better prepared to assume executive roles in education or any other career field.  The symposium focuses on women’s intersecting identities, unique challenges, and the need to build supportive structures within the professional working environment.   Participants will engage with seasoned education administrators and expert practitioners to facilitate a well-rounded and life changing experience. Each presentation will include time for a hands-on engagement activity and participants will leave with resources they can utilize as they move forward in their career.  The symposium is a 1/2 day pre conference event which occurs immediately before the HACU Annual Conference.  Please go to annual conference web page for registration instructions.

Latino Higher Education Leadership Institute

The Latino Higher Education Leadership Institute, is a dynamic, half-day forum for faculty, staff, and administrators at any stage of their careers, will focus on strategies for moving up the faculty and administrative ladders in higher education. Expert presenters and breakout sessions will explore essential topics in more depth.  The day concludes with a panel comprised of top Latina/o presidents. This event is a 1/2 day pre-conference event which occurs just before the HACU Annual Conference begins.  Please go to annual conference web page for registration instructions.

Annual Conference Student Track addresses leadership and career opportunities for current college students.

• The HACU National Internship Program (HNIP) offers extensive leadership training in conjunction with internship opportunities for college students with federal agencies or major corporations.

STEM INITIATIVES

Goal: to increase Hispanic participation in STEM education and careers 

• STEM Summits bring together regional gathering of STEM majors and employers to offer preparation in readiness for STEM career opportunities, including internships through the HACU National Internship Program (HNIP).
• HACU STEM Task Force is a committee of distinguished university faculty and administrators in the sciences meeting 2014-16 to develop policy and program recommendations to guide HACU's STEM efforts. 
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CAREER READINESS

• In partnership with Google, HSI Career Readiness Program offers a semester-long in-person and online digital skills program to help students from selected institutions prepare for critical steps in their career journey.

Climate and Sustainability

Goal: to foster HACU membership involvement in climate change and sustainable practices issues

• Solution Generation is a coalition of higher education partners committed to leading by example on a path to a positive future for climate solutions.

• HACU is an active partner with ecoAmerica/MomentUs and HEASC.

Some past HACU programs:

• Research Capacity Building

  Goal: To build the capacity of HSIs by enabling their faculty to become more competitive in the procurement of federal grants and contracts.

  • DHHS Professions Capacity Building Program, funded from 1999 through 2010 by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health and National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities

• Undergraduate & Graduate Research Internship/Fellowship Programs

  Goal: To increase the representation of Hispanic students in national science research centers.

  • The National Hispanic Health Disparities Research Career Training Workshops, funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services through the Office of Minority Health from 2012-15, offered regional workshops to encourage and prepare undergraduate students in health career programs to consider and prepare for research careers in health disparities.

• Faculty Research Programs

  Goal: To enhance research and teaching skills of participating HSI faculty members by placing them in national research laboratories.

• Pre-Collegiate Programs

  Goal: To increase enrollment of Hispanics in higher education by providing them with more resources at a younger age.

• A HACU Office of Information Technology and Innovation operated from 1999 to 2011

  Goal: To assist HACU-member institutions to become engaged in the emerging cyberinfrastructure (CI) and the computational and e-science it enables, bridge the "Digital Divide," and broaden the participation of Hispanics in computing.
  Many of its programs were funded through NSF and involved collaborations with the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (through the National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education--NAFEO) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (through the American Indian Higher Education Consortium--AIHEC).

The Office of International Affairs provides special services both for HACU's International Members and for U.S. members in their international relations.  These services include the biennial International Conference, the international plenary and workshop track at the Annual Conference, opportunities for networking and developing joint international programs, and liaison with other international education organizations.