The 2026 Best Practices Showcase (BPS), offered in February 12 and 13, 2026, shared more than 35 presentations from institutions in Puerto Rico, the United States, and Latin América, including corporate partners speakers. The 2026 BPS allowed HETS to share innovative projects and best practices in four major tracks focused on Innovation, Access, Online Learning and Technology Integration in Higher Education, and a track of innovative projects from talented students. More than 170 participants registered to join in person presentations shared by different Higher Education institutions and corporate partners.
This year, the Opening Plenary discussed the topic Framing with excelencia: what works using data, practice, and leadership, to inform and compel action by institutions and leaders intentionally serving today’s students. The main speaker was Deborah A. Santiago, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Excelencia in Education, who believes in the power of higher education to link opportunity and talent. for more than 20 years, she has led efforts from the community to national and federal levels to improve educational opportunities and success for all students.
In addition, the conference showcased the Track Winners Panel, who achieved the highest scores on their presentation proposals per track, moderated by Dr. Yubelkys Montalvo, HETS Executive Director. The Innovation track winners were John Hunt from LaGuardia Community College, CUNY, who received the highest score in the Access Track, with his co presenter David Housel; Nicholas Balderas from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, obtaining the highest score in the Online Learning Track; Pamela Doran from Suny Empire State University, receiving the highest score in the Student Track; and Nitzan Pelman, Founder & CEO at Climb Together, who received the highest score, not only within the Innovation Track, but among all tracks, with her co author, Jessica Pérez from LaGuardia Community College, CUNY.
Concurrent with the 2026 Best Practices Showcase, HETS Board of Directors held their Winter meeting with more than 25 representatives out of the 40 current members. The results of the first semester of academic year 2025-2026 were topics of discussion. Among the shared news with the Board were highlighted the major activities that support the organizational programmatic goals such as: the Student Leadership Showcase hybrid event; webinars; the results of the HETS Online Journal fall issue published and its three new editorial members; and is third edition of the Student Passport Puerto Rico Edition promoting their mobility and interinstitutional relations.
Board members also welcomed three new institutional members: Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico and Instituto Tecnológico San Antonio from Ecuador with their representatives in-person, and New York City College of Technology, CUNY, representative virtually. During the second day of the meeting the Board held a corporate session with presentations of current HETS partners which included: COBIMET, Symplicity, American Heart Association, Teach Access, and Online Learning Consortium. Also, Board members welcomed and saw the presentations of its two new partners, D2L Brightspace and Raíces Cyber Org.
HETS would like to recognize the valuable collaboration of President José Méndez Méndez, and his attentive staff for hosting and making possible the success of these events at Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Carolina Campus. Also, would like to thanks Eng. Gladys Nieves, President of EDP University, for her support with the ground transportation for the participants coming from outside Puerto Rico.