May 5, 2021
HACU receives grant from Capital One for the 2021-22 Transformative Capacity Building Cohort
The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities has been awarded a $500,000 community grant from Capital One to support its 2021-22 Transformative Capacity Building Cohort.
The grant will support various initiatives including a collaboration with Florida International University and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez, to develop and implement a transformative program to address career pathways and career readiness gaps by developing technology and digital solutions to build university capacity and infrastructure for undergraduate students on the FIU and UPRM campuses.
“We are grateful to Capital One for this grant that will help us expand opportunities to improve career pathways for students, and fellowships for HACU’s Leadership Academy at two of our member institutions: Florida International University and the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez” said HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores. “This grant recognizes that support for the needs of our students must be matched by pathways for equitable representation at the highest levels of college and university administration.”
The grant will also support two fellows from UPRM and two from FIU selected to participate in the fourth cohort of HACU's La Academia de Liderazgo, a one-year program that prepares the next generation of culturally diverse leaders for executive and senior level positions in higher education.
Capital One will also provide a workshop for students during the Associations’ Annual Conference, as well as mentorship support to students.
"As a first-generation college graduate who attended an HSI, I am intimately aware of the important role these institutions play in the success and persistence of students. Even more, the space they create for students to find community and connection is just as critical. That is why as part of Capital One's Impact Initiative and racial equity efforts, we are proud to support organizations like HACU in their mission to support and enrich the HSI ecosystem," said Aarón Almada, Senior Manager, Community Impact & Investment at Capital One and HACU Corporate & Philanthropic Council member.