The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities is accepting applications through July 31, 2026, for the third cohort of its Visioning, Organizing, Leading, and Advancing the Research Enterprise Institute (VOLARÉ).
The yearlong program begins fall 2026 and is designed for colleges and universities seeking to strengthen research development and pre-award capacity. The program helps administrative leaders, staff and faculty broaden participation in STEM by developing research initiatives through needs assessments, institutional planning and collaborative action plans.
Participants will take part in a three-day in-person session and monthly virtual cohort sessions throughout the program. Sessions will include a research enterprise financial model workshop, institutional assessments, consortium-building opportunities, peer mentoring communities, and support for developing action plans and timelines.
Institutions selected for the program are expected to participate in at least two one-hour virtual meetings each month. There are no participation fees, and the cost of attending one planned in-person meeting is subsidized.
Participants will gain practical tools and strategies to strengthen their institution’s research enterprise, including:
• An actionable strategy for growing research capacity
• Guidance on strengthening research administration and infrastructure
• Networking and peer learning opportunities
• Increased competitiveness for federal research funding
Information, FAQS about the program and application process are available at https://hacu.net/volare-institute/
The online application deadline has been extended to July 31, 2026.
Important: The application cannot be saved and completed later. Applicants should review the PDF application and prepare all required materials before starting the online application.
For more information, contact Oralia De los Reyes, assistant vice president of programs and services, at (210) 576-3244 or oralia.delosreyes@hacu.net, or Briana Jackson, program manager, at (210) 576-3236 or briana.jackson@hacu.net.
The VOLARÉ Institute is supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant #2342147.
Click here to download a PDF Flyer.
