The USDA, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Leadership Group serves as an advisory body that provides guidance and direction to USDA on matters of mutual benefit relating to USDA-HACU partnership initiatives.
The purpose of this partnership is to provide a cooperative framework for the parties to develop and maintain a USDA Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) and Hispanic-Serving Agricultural Colleges and Universities (HSACUs) agenda that will help Hispanic Americans achieve education excellence and to contribute to the fulfillment of the USDA mission. This collaborative agenda is focused on promoting agriculture, food and environmental sciences, and other agriculture-related careers for students attending HSIs and HSACUs.
Membership consists of an equal number of members from USDA and HACU-member institutions and has the responsibility to make recommendations to the Secretary of Agriculture and the President of HACU. The Secretary of Agriculture appoints a co-chairperson of the USDA-HACU Leadership Group and USDA members. The President of HACU nominates a co-chairperson of the USDA-HACU Leadership Group and HACU members for secretarial approval.