HUUC Launches Hispanic/Latino Initiative

Members of the HUUC Hispanic/Latino with HU President Dr. William R. Harvey

 HUUC Launches Hispanic/Latino Initiative

The Hampton University University College (HUUC) recently launched a Hispanic/Latino initiative with the goal of making curriculum and school offerings even more diverse and inclusive for current and incoming students.

Officials are hopeful the initiative will also create cultural awareness among the campus and local communities and increase enrollment of Hispanic/Latino students at Hampton University.  HUUC is the branch of HU that caters to continuing education and non-traditional students.

“Our nation has arrived at a very important moment in our society where achieving diversity and inclusion in an era of transformation  is key to the growth of the Hispanic population in Hampton Roads,” said Dr. Almarie Munley, HUUC Dean. “Hampton University- University College recognizes the contributions made and the important presence of the Hispanic/Latino population in our learning communities.”

On April 16 University College organized the first Hampton University Hispanic/Latino Initiative Think Tank which hosted leaders from various Hispanic organizations across the State of Virginia and beyond, including Virginia Latino Higher Education Network(VALHEN),  Hampton Roads Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (HRHCC), Esperanza College from  Philadelphia, Colonial Williamsburg Latino Association, Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACALAO), Hispanic Advisory Board of Newport News, Scholarship Sharing Organization for Hispanics, and National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC). 

The initiative will be headquartered at 11817 Canon Blvd. in Newport News, but will serve all of Hampton University. It will operate with an internal steering committee comprised of faculty, administrative staff and students to be led by a Hispanic Outreach Coordinator, and a part-time liaison, in collaboration with Munley and Alisha Foster, Director and Project Lead for the Hispanic Initiative.

Increasing access to programs at HU for the Hispanic markets, offering Hispanic scholarships, providing a progressive and innovative approach to educating Hispanic communities, and supporting the fast growing Hispanic communities across the United States are just some of the program’s immediate goals.

“As with all we do at HU and HUUC we want to uphold the standard of excellence, and that means broadening the scope of what we do and what we offer to all students,” Foster said. “Diversity matters to us at HU and we want to show that in all our efforts.”

Leha Byrd