HACU drew more than 1,800 people to its 40th annual conference in Chula Vista, California.HACU
The gathering, held from Saturday to Monday under the theme “40 Years of Championing Higher Education Success: One Graduate at a Time,” focused on student success, institutional leadership, workforce preparation, international partnerships and the growing influence of artificial intelligence in higher education. It was held in Chula Vista, California.
The conference also offered an opportunity for attendees to share experiences and connect with colleagues working to expand educational opportunities for Hispanic students and other historically underserved populations.
For some participants, the gathering was as much about building relationships as it was about attending workshops and panels.
Brittany Zorn, the assistant director of community partnerships and initiatives at Salem State University described the experience as enriching and inspiring in a LinkedIn post. She attended with eight students and other colleagues.
"You know the conference is good when you forget to post about it until the last day!" she wrote. "I look forward to bringing my learnings back with me to Salem where we will continue to meet the moment."
Curtis Loop, a student from San Bernardino Valley College, said the conference provided opportunities to connect with leaders across higher education and industry. In a LinkedIn post after the gathering, Loop said he was returning to campus with new connections and ideas for creating opportunities for students in cybersecurity, technology, esports and STEM.
“One of my biggest takeaways is that education opens doors, but relationships, leadership, and community help us walk through them,” he wrote. "I'm returning to SBVC with more than memories. I'm bringing back ideas, inspiration, and a renewed commitment to helping our students succeed."
Giovanni Rubio, a biomedical sciences student at Colorado State University, said connecting with other students and learning networking strategies during the conference was especially beneficial as a first-generation college student.
“I grew up with a strong emphasis on hard work, which I don't think is a bad thing,” Rubio said, “but over time, I developed a bit of tunnel vision and lost sight of the importance of building community and relationships along the way. This conference really reinforced how important it is to stay connected and build relationships with people, regardless of their backgrounds or areas of study.”
Rubio, from Fort Worth, Texas, also found the conference's discussions about internships and professional opportunities helpful. As a pre-med student, Rubio had sometimes viewed those opportunities as following a narrow path. HACU's programming pushed people to consider possibilities beyond what he initially envisioned, Rubio said.
During a Dominion Energy workshop, Rubio practiced the STAR method, a framework for answering interview questions by describing a situation, task, action, and result. Rubio volunteered to practice in front of the room and won a prize for application of the interview strategies.
Another memorable moment came when Rubio thanked California State University San Bernardino President Dr. S. Terri Gómez for remarks given during a conference lunch panel. Gómez's willingness to engage in conversation challenged Rubio's assumptions about approaching senior administrators and gave the confidence to speak with other professionals.
"HACU had spent so much time reminding us that professionals are often more approachable than we might think," Rubio said. "It was a great reminder that sometimes you just have to put yourself out there and take the initiative to start a conversation!"
That emphasis on student opportunity was reflected throughout the conference program. HACU offered more than 50 workshops across seven tracks addressing capacity-building for HSIs, teaching and learning, student engagement and success, leadership, federal and state advocacy, global engagement and workforce preparation.
The association also hosted its ¡Adelante! Leadership Institute, which provides undergraduate students with opportunities to develop leadership skills and connect with higher education and industry professionals.
Destanē Williams, a first-generation college student pursuing a nursing degree, described attending the institute as an experience she would carry throughout her academic and professional journey. In a LinkedIn post, she said the conference expanded her understanding of leadership, networking, and professional development. She also highlighted the opportunity to connect with representatives from different organizations and companies, including Google.
One of the conference's central discussions addressed artificial intelligence and its implications for colleges and universities.
The Nov. 2 town hall, “Ready or Not: Thriving in the New Age of AI,” examined AI's potential to transform teaching, learning, student success and workforce preparation, with particular attention to the opportunities and challenges facing HSIs. Panelists also discussed AI ethics, responsible innovation and the need for safeguards that protect students, communities and institutions.
Students participated in the town hall by demonstrating projects that incorporated AI into their coursework, giving conference attendees an opportunity to see how the technology was being applied across disciplines.
The conference also examined the role of international partnerships in improving student outcomes. During a Nov. 2 international plenary, college and university leaders discussed how exchange programs and global initiatives could support retention, degree completion and career readiness. Speakers included leaders from San José State University, Laredo College, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and the University of Castilla-La Mancha in Spain.
The conference also marked a leadership transition for the association. HACU officials announced on Wednesday that Harold Washington College President Dr. Daniel López would become chair of its governing board. Manhattanville University President Dr. Frank D. Sánchez was named vice chair.
Five new members were appointed to the governing board: Kean University President Lamont Repollet, New Mexico State University System President Valerio Ferme, California State University, Stanislaus President Britt Rios-Ellis, San Bernardino Community College District Chancellor Diana Rodriguez and San Diego Community College District Chancellor Gregory Smith.
For attendees, the conference's 40th anniversary also offered an opportunity to reflect on the personal and institutional connections that sustain the work.
James Billings, reflecting on his first HACU conference in a LinkedIn post, connected the experience to his family's history. His grandmother immigrated from Mexico in the 1940s, and he considered what she might have thought about one of her grandsons attending a gathering focused on expanding educational opportunities for Hispanic students.
He said he was encouraged by the conference's emphasis on advocacy and developing the next generation of Hispanic leaders in higher education.
“Every student brings a history, a family, and aspirations of their own,” he wrote. “Helping them succeed can create opportunities that reach across generations.”
That generational perspective echoed the conference's anniversary theme and the association's longstanding emphasis on improving access to and the quality of higher education for Hispanic students.
