HACU announces agenda for 27^th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education, virtual event  

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities’ 27^th Annual National Capitol Forum on Hispanic Higher Education will take place on April 5-6, 2022, with pre-conference sessions on April 4. The Capitol Forum will be held as a virtual event - see the regularly updated online agenda for session details.

Free pre-conference workshops will be held a day prior to the Forum. A special pre-conference session will feature U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel A. Cardona. A series of sessions focused on funding opportunities for HSIs will include agency presenters: National Endowment for the Humanities, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Education, National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy and NASA Langley Research Center.

The opening of the Capitol Forum will include welcome remarks by HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores, followed by a session on “Higher Education Priorities for the 2^nd session of the 117^th Congress,” with opening remarks from U.S. Undersecretary of Education James Kvaal. Speakers include Policy Advisor for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Viviann Anguiano, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Executive Director Stephanie Palencia and White House Initiative Executive Director Melody Gonzales.

An early afternoon session, “Rebuilding after the COVID-19: Meeting the Unexpected Needs of Students, Faculty and Staff at HSIs,” will feature opening remarks by Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. Speakers include Glendale Community College President Teresa Leyba-Ruiz, Ph.D., University of La Verne President Devorah Lieberman, Ph.D., Alamo Colleges District Chancellor Mike Flores, Ph.D., and University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes, Ph.D. as moderator.

A Statement on Health on HSI Campuses given by Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra will precede a late afternoon session that will include a “Hispanic-Serving Institutions Caucus Policy Update,” featuring  U.S. Senator Alex Padilla, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat and U.S. Representative Jenniffer González-Colón. 

A Mechanics of Grassroots Advocacy session featuring New Mexico Higher Education Department Cabinet Secretary Stephanie Rodriguez and New Mexico Higher Education Department Public Information Officer Stephanie Montoya will precede the final session of the first day “Hispanic Educational Resources and Empowerment (HERE) Act Panel Discussion” featuring U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro, Washington Elementary School District Assistant Superintendent Lyn Bailey, Ph.D., and Elizabeth Public Schools Superintendent of Schools Olga Hugelmeyer.

A “Congressional Meetings Preparation and HACU's Legislative Priorities,” will include welcome remarks from American Council on Education Government Relations and Public Affairs Senior Vice President Terry Hartle, Ph.D., followed by a presentation from HACU Government Relations staff before the next days Congressional Meetings.

The second day of the Forum will be devoted to Congressional Meetings Preparation, followed by Congressional Meetings scheduled by HACU's government relations offices via Zoom, and a Post-Congressional Meetings Debriefing.

The virtual Capitol Forum offers a safety-conscious opportunity for participation and engagement for individuals invested in the advocacy and funding efforts for HSIs.

The deadline to register online is March 22. Sponsorship and advertisement opportunities are also available. The deadline for reserving ad space in the conference program is March 4.