HACU holds Illinois Roundtable at University of Illinois Chicago

The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities hosted an Illinois Roundtable, October 1, 2025, at the University of Illinois Chicago. The Roundtable brought together university and college presidents and Illinois state legislators and leaders in a strategic discussion to shape and inform HACU's Midwestern Regional Office on advocacy, leadership, and collaborative partnership.

HACU Director of Government Relations for the Midwestern Regional Office Gilberto Ruiz gave welcoming remarks to the attendees. Providing special remarks at the roundtable were Marie Lynn Miranda, Ph.D., chancellor of University of Illinois Chicago and HACU Governing Board member; Daniel Lopez, Ph.D., president of Harold Washington College, City Colleges of Chicago and HACU Governing Board vice-chair; and Illinois State Senator Graciela Guzman.

The roundtable provided an opportunity for college and university leaders to dialogue with the legislators whose work directly effects the higher education institutions teaching the state's future workforce. Among the issues discussed were efforts to create a state-level Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation, the creation of an HSI Advisory Council to the governor, and the unique challenges and opportunities for these institutions in serving students. Federal and state policies and funding mechanisms to strengthen HSI workforce development capacities, and workforce development priorities were also among the topics of discussion.