Utah
Utah Valley University Receives Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Award
SAN DIEGO, CA — Utah Valley College (UVU) obtained the Hispanic Affiliation of
Schools and Universities (HACU) Excellent Member Establishment award on Oct. 9 at
the HACU nationwide convention in San Diego. Dr. Kyle A. Reyes, vice chairman of institutional
development, accepted the award on behalf of the college.
“We imagine in inclusive training,” mentioned Dr. Astrid S. Tuminez, president of Utah
Valley College. “We particularly deal with creating alternatives for many who are
underrepresented. Since its inception in 2007, the Latino Initiative has elevated
UVU’s Hispanic enrollment by 398% and commencement by 724%. UVU has the biggest Latino
scholar enrollment amongst four-year greater training establishments in Utah. Dr. Reyes
is a part of that success; earlier than his latest roles, he served as UVU’s chief variety
officer and developed our nationally acknowledged, campus-wide strategic inclusion and
variety plan.”
The 36th annual convention was themed “Championing Hispanic Increased Schooling Success: Rebuilding
a Extra Resilient and Inclusive America.” The HACU award was established to honor establishments
that present extraordinary assist for HACU’s mission and to acknowledge these establishments’
efforts to facilitate academic success amongst Latino college students. A part of HACU’s mission
is to enhance: “entry to and the standard of post-secondary academic alternatives
for Hispanic college students.”
“We’re so grateful for the assist from HACU as we proceed to serve our rising
and various communities,” Reyes mentioned. “It was an honor to simply accept this distinguished
award on behalf of Utah Valley College. Inclusivity is amongst our founding pillars.
Now we have led the best way in initiatives to open the door to success for everybody. We’re
particularly pleased with the Latino Scientists of Tomorrow Summer time Bridge Program and its
success in serving to college students envision a future and offering the instruments they should
obtain their targets.”
HACU will even acknowledge UVU’s collaboration with HACU and Dominion Vitality to duplicate
UVU’s Latino Scientists of Tomorrow Summer time Bridge Program at six universities throughout
america and Puerto Rico. Dr. Yudi Lewis, former program director of the
Latino Initiative, shall be honored for her position in creating this system.
Now in its 13th yr at UVU, the Latino Scientists of Tomorrow Summer time Bridge Program is designed
to help Latinos and different college students in turning into scientists, engineers, and enterprise
leaders. Every summer time, roughly 50 tenth- and eleventh-grade college students throughout Utah
take part within the seven-week course on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. By means of the
program, college students discover science fields resembling biotechnology and geology.
“All college students ought to have entry to a high quality training and be supplied with the abilities
to realize thrilling new profession alternatives,” mentioned Carter Reid, government vice chairman
and chief of employees for Dominion Vitality. “It is a step towards enhancing fairness for
Hispanic college students and growing variety in STEM careers.”
College students can earn three to 6 school credit by taking part within the Latino Scientists
of Tomorrow Summer time Bridge Program and are surrounded by success groups, which embrace
dad and mom, mentors, and school. So far, greater than 450 college students have accomplished the
program. In 2021 alone, 134 college students from 42 Utah excessive colleges and two out-of-state
colleges graduated from this system.