HACU attends Inaugural New England Hispanic and Minority Serving Institutions Conference

July 19, 2024

HACU attends Inaugural New England Hispanic and Minority Serving Institutions Conference

The Hispanic Association of College and Universities staff members were among the presenters at the Inaugural New England Hispanic and Minority Serving Institutions Conference, "From Enrolling to Thriving: Transforming Hispanic and Minority Serving Institutions," hosted by HACU-member institution Salem State University in Salem, Mass., on July 18-19, 2024.

"Salem State University is proud to collaborate with our consortium partners at Bunker Hill, Holyoke, and MassBay community colleges and to serve as the host of the Inaugural New England Hispanic and Minority Serving Institution Conference," saidSalem State University President John Keenan.

At the two-day sold-out conference, Senior Vice President for Policy and Government Relations Lena T. Rodriguez gave a special welcome message from HACU. Rodriguez also joined Director of Government Relations Xiomara Santos, and Executive Director of HACU's National Internship Program Diana Vasquez as a panelist during, "HACU's National Policy Briefing and Internship Presentation." The HACU session provided an overview on higher education policies affecting Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), the latest Capitol Hill developments and federal funding status as well as best practices for amplifying HSI messaging and outreach. Information about opportunities available for college students through the HACU National Internship Program were also discussed.

The goal of the conference was to share knowledge from across and beyond New England, collectively working to increase access and success in higher education, develop new collaborations and partnerships, and discuss educational priorities for Massachusetts' HSIs and the greater Hispanic and Latino community.