The Hispanic Association Of Colleges And Universities is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for Hispanic students.

“Aligning ourselves with organizations that have a mission of ensuring educational opportunities for Hispanic students is a natural for us because of our location in a state with a growing Hispanic population,” says Southwestern University President Jake B. Schrum. “Becoming an active member of HACU will help us better serve our Hispanic students and faculty members.”

Schrum noted that Southwestern already has a longstanding relationship with the National Hispanic Institute, which was founded by Southwestern graduate Ernest Nieto.

Hispanic students currently make up 13 percent of Southwestern’s student body. One of the major goals in Southwestern’s Strategic Plan for 2010 is to increase the diversity of its faculty, staff and students.

Representatives from Southwestern plan to attend HACU’s Annual Conference, “Twenty Years of Championing Hispanic Higher Education,” to be held in San Antonio Oct. 28-31 For more information on HACU, visit its Web site at www.hacu.net.