Elected Chair in June 2024:
Since 1993, the Hispanic Educational Technology Services (HETS) has worked to expand the educational opportunities and access to higher education for the Hispanic community. Back then, HETS was the first bilingual technology-oriented consortium of colleges and universities focused on widening Hispanics’ access to higher education and training opportunities through educational technology and distance learning. Today, it serves more than 40 higher education institutions in Hispanic and fast-growing Hispanic communities by promoting, supporting, and increasing their capabilities to enhance Hispanic/Latino student access, retention, and success in Higher Education through the strategic integration of technology. HETS support and value has been widely known among its members for more than 30 years.
HETS has continued to enhance its services to provide ongoing support to the academic community in this new scenario. HETS has produced and offered more than 20 tutorials in Spanish and English with Student Ambassadors on how to access free services at the Student Placita in the HETS Virtual Plaza; and on Student Leadership Showcase Online Tours to reinforce student leadership skills. HETS also held more than 60 webinars in Spanish and in English on Distance Learning to support faculty and administrators with remote teaching-learning. It also launched every semester its peer review HETS Online Journal with articles that offer insights and suggestions pertinent to the current environment.
I invite you to explore the HETS website where you can become familiar with our strategic plan, learn about HETS services, and examine our multiple initiatives aimed at fostering greater collaboration among all our affiliates. One of the biggest challenges we face today is to help our members expand the number and quality of technology-based educational opportunities. To achieve this goal and aid in securing prosperity for all Hispanic/Latinos, we must out-innovate and out-educate our competitors. I visualize HETS present and future most crucial than ever, as a pioneer organization in the use of technology in higher education with enormous expertise and services ready to use.
As Chair of the Board of Directors, I am honored to have the opportunity to contribute to sustaining the momentum created by the past outstanding leaders of HETS to fulfill its mission and achieve its vision. I invite you to learn more about HETS and to consider becoming part of this strategic alliance. Moreover, I asked other institutions to benefit from HETS as a unique organization that fosters Hispanic/Latino student success in Higher Education through the strategic integration of technology.
Eng. Gladys Nieves
Chair, HETS Board of Directors
President, EDP University
EDP University