October 4, 2023
HACU holds events in Chicago to expand regional collaborations
In the last two decades, the total Hispanic population has increased significantly in Illinois, representing 18.3% of its population. In 2020, Illinois had the fifth largest Hispanic population in the U.S. with 2.3 million Hispanics. In 2021-2022, Hispanic-Serving Institutions enrolled over 200,000 postsecondary students in Illinois and 60% of all Hispanic students attending the state’s nonprofit institutions.
The educational challenges Latino students face was widely discussed by higher education leaders and supporters in a convening held by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities on Oct. 3, 2023, in Chicago, Ill.
HACU President and CEO and senior staff met with area college and university presidents, community leaders, as well as regional legislators, as part of a series of HACU roundtable and conversation sessions. HACU President and CEO Antonio R. Flores led a morning President’s Roundtable bringing together higher education leadership, followed by an afternoon community leaders’ engagement event, both held at the Arturo Velasquez Institute. HACU student services staff also met with students from area institutions who participated in Roundtable sessions.
The day concluded with an Illinois Legislative Leadership Forum, which brought together higher education leaders and legislators to discuss higher education opportunities and challenges in Illinois.
Leaders, administrators, and staff from the following institutions were in attendance.
Chicago State University
DePaul University
Harold Washington College, City Colleges of Chicago
Lewis University
Northern Illinois University
Northeastern Illinois University
Richard J. Daley College, City Colleges of Chicago
Roosevelt University
St. Augustine College
Wilbur Wright College, City Colleges of Chicago
Download a data brief on Illinois here.
HACU will hosts is 37th Annual Conference on Hispanic higher education in Chicago on October 28-30, 2023.