CCA Hosts “HACU on the Road,” Addressing Issues Facing Education for Hispanic/Latinx Students

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CCA Hosts “HACU on the road”

Educational leaders discuss issues facing Hispanic/Latinx students today.

Video produced by: CCA Dept. of Strategic Communications

AURORA, Colo. – The Community College of Aurora is proud to have been the host of the Hispanic Association of College and Universities (HACU) “HACU on the Road: Destination Higher Education Success” convening on November 14th, 2023.

“HACU on the Road” is an annual convening of Higher Education Leaders and the leadership of HACU hosted in various states across the United States. The HSI institution who hosts is usually in the state selected for the HACU conference of the next year with the goal of beginning the discussion surrounding the educational needs for Hispanic/Latinx students.

The HACU President and CEO Dr. Antonio R. Flores served as keynote. He began by informing on the Hispanic population growth across the U.S. and identified the challenges of a labor force where the Hispanic/Latinx population is underrepresented in professions such as healthcare, STEM, Energy, and Computer Information Technology. Dr. Flores then explained HACU’s efforts towards advocacy for HSIs and HSI emerging institutions by urging for increased Federal funding and by forging partnerships aimed at benefiting Hispanic Serving institutions. HACU also works to increase expertise in HSI institutions by providing professional development programs training leaders for executive and presidency roles in HSI higher education institutions through their HACU Leadership Academy/La Academia de Liderazgo. 

After the “HACU on the Road” event, a panel discussion followed focused on Educating the Growing Hispanic/Latinx Population in the State of Colorado.  The session began with a presentation of the current demographics of the state from the Colorado State Demographer, Elizabeth Garner. Then CCA President Brownlee served as moderator to special panel guests that included HACU President and CEO Dr. Antonio R. Flores; Elizabeth Garner, State of Colorado Demographer; Dr. Roberto Montoya, Associate VP of Partner Success – Hispanic Institutions of InsideTrack; and Dr. Angela Marquez, VP of DEI, and Chief of Staff at CCA.  

Dr. Mordecai Brownlee praised the dialogue of the day’s event as a helpful and informative way to delve into important issues facing this population of students. 

“As the demographics of our community, state, and nation continue to evolve, institutions with emerging HSI status will surely reach full designation. However, it is essential to note that the title is only a classification reflecting institutional enrollment trends. What matters most is that every emerging and officially designated HSI establishes and implements inclusive pedagogy, andragogy, and student resources are interwoven into the student experience within these diverse learning communities to improve equitable student success. Without such a relentless commitment, the designation means nothing,” Dr. Brownlee said. 

CCA was named a federally designated HSI in 2016. A school must have 25% or higher total undergraduate Hispanic or Latino full-time equivalent enrollment to earn the designation. 

As a federally-designated HSI, CCA is eligible for additional federal grant funding to assist in the expansion of program offerings, facilities, and services for Latinx and other historically underserved students. Currently CCA is in the fifth year of the Developing Hispanic Serving Institutions Title V Grant, funding the Asegurando Project. The objectives of this grant includes: providing instructional support and coaching; development and the implementation of a College Readiness program; and supporting a data informed culture at CCA through widespread use of Tableau dashboards and other data-informed best practices.

HACU was founded in 1986, and represents more than 500 colleges and universities in the United States, Latin America, Spain, and school districts throughout the U.S. 

HACU will host its 38th annual conference in Aurora at the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in November of 2024.