The Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) has announced that it will host an exclusive member webinar titled “From Equity Data to Action: AI-Powered Student Success at HSIs.” The virtual event is scheduled for November 17, 2026, beginning at 2 p.m. Central Time. The upcoming session is designed to address one of the most pressing challenges facing modern higher education: how institutions can effectively transition from merely collecting institutional data to implementing targeted, real-world solutions that close equity gaps and enhance student outcomes. Members of the academic community and institutional leaders wishing to participate in the virtual event can access the registration portal online through the official HACU-member webinar registration link provided by the association.
This upcoming webinar is carefully structured to explore how Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) can successfully move beyond traditional reporting models. For years, colleges and universities have accumulated vast repositories of student data, yet many institutions still struggle to translate these numbers into meaningful institutional change. The session will focus on how HSIs can adopt integrated analytic approaches capable of turning raw equity data into role-specific actions that empower faculty, administrators, and student support staff alike. By breaking down data silos across campus departments, institutions can create a unified vision for student achievement that directly addresses the unique needs of diverse student populations.
A central highlight of the webinar will be a featured presentation from Kean University, a prominent Hispanic-Serving Institution that has been a leader in modernizing institutional research and analytics. Representatives from Kean University’s Division of Strategic Analytics and Data Illumination will share comprehensive insights into how the institution is actively strengthening its internal data infrastructure. This modernization effort is specifically aimed at aligning high-level leadership strategy with measurable, day-to-day student outcomes. Rather than viewing data as a compliance metric, Kean University’s approach treats data as a dynamic tool for institutional transformation and academic equity.
To provide a broader systemic perspective, the presentation will draw extensively from prior system-level leadership experience within the California State University (CSU) system. Presenters will examine critical administrative components such as institutional governance, robust accountability structures, and cross-campus alignment strategies that are vital for sustaining long-term educational reform. Implementing meaningful change across a university requires more than just innovative technology; it demands a cultural shift and structured support systems that ensure accountability at every level of the organization. The discussion will address how leaders can foster collaboration between academic affairs, student affairs, and data science teams to ensure that equity initiatives do not stall at the administrative level.
A major focus of the virtual event will center on cutting-edge technological advancements, specifically exploring artificial intelligence-enabled approaches. Artificial intelligence and advanced analytics hold the potential to revolutionize how higher education institutions process complex datasets. During the webinar, experts will demonstrate how AI tools can help institutions sift through massive amounts of information to uncover hidden equity gaps that traditional reporting methods might overlook. By leveraging these advanced technological solutions, HSIs can transform complex information into clear, actionable insights, ultimately driving measurable improvements in student retention, persistence, and graduation rates.
The expert panel leading the webinar brings a wealth of knowledge and extensive professional experience in higher education administration, data analytics, and student success advocacy. The session will be presented by Neva Lozada, Ed.D., who serves as the vice president of administration in the division of strategic analytics and data illumination at Kean University. Alongside Dr. Lozada, the presentation will feature Jeff Gold, Ed.D., founder and principal of Insights2Action and former assistant vice chancellor for student success at the California State University system. Together, these distinguished speakers offer a unique combination of frontline institutional leadership and macro-level system experience, providing attendees with a comprehensive view of how data and artificial intelligence can be harnessed to foster true educational equity.
This specialized session is being offered as a core component of the ongoing HACU-member webinar series, which regularly provides professional development, expert insights, and collaborative networking opportunities for member institutions dedicated to championing Hispanic student success in higher education. As HSIs continue to play a vital and rapidly expanding role in the American higher education landscape, events like this offer critical spaces for peer-to-peer learning and strategic innovation. Institutional leaders, campus administrators, institutional researchers, and faculty members interested in advancing data-driven equity initiatives on their own campuses are encouraged to secure their spots for the November 2026 presentation through the official registration link.
