UNIDOS News
Travel Grant Update
Travel Grants are back! We are opening up applications for the next round of Collaboration Kickstart Travel Grants with applications due June 1st. Watch for more information next week in your email inbox and on our LinkedIn page.
Applications for the 2026 UNIDOS Leadership Institute Opening Soon!
The UNIDOS Leadership Institute is a leadership development program designed specifically for mid-career faculty at 2- and 4-year Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs) who are (or have recently) stepped into, or are preparing for, formal leadership roles, such as department chair, program director, or similar positions that shape academic or administrative direction. This institute is designed to provide faculty with space to collaborate with professionals across institutions and disciplines, engage in professional workshops, receive coaching from a team of UNIDOS leadership developers and experienced leaders, and engage in meaningful dialogue and reflection. We are expanding the pilot program to four nationwide offerings (California, Texas, Washington DC, and Puerto Rico!), with space for up to 20 faculty members at each site. Limited scholarships to help cover travel expenses will be available.
Applications will be opening later this month! So keep an eye out for additional details via email and watch for updates on the website here.
¡Te invitamos a participar en nuestro Link & Learn!
Our May Link and Learn Dialogues will be held on Thursday, 5/14/2026 (12:00 pm ET/11:00 am CT/10:00 am MT; 9:00 am PT) and Wednesday, 5/27/2026 (12:00pmE/11:00amC/10:00amM; 9:00amP). These sessions will be devoted to the following working groups to present their deliverables –
- Community Colleges: Unique challenges, opportunities and experiences
- Engaging Students in Research at institutions with limited or no PhD programs
¿Tienes alguna idea para nuestra próxima Link & Learn? We want to make sure the sessions truly reflect what matters most to our community.
- Is there a topic you’re passionate about or have expertise in and would be open to sharing?
- Is there something new you’re curious to explore or learn more about?
Your ideas help shape meaningful conversations, so we’d love to hear from you!
Click on this link to submit your ideas.
UNIDOS launched collaborative Working Groups to bring together the voices, expertise, and lived experiences of the HSI community and others focused on undergraduate STEM education at HSIs. Although the UNIDOS Working Group applications are now closed, we appreciate the overwhelming interest from our community.
¡Gracias a los grupos que han participado en el pasado!
Our May Link and Learn Dialogues are being presented by some of our past Working Groups. Stay tuned as the past working groups continue to share their deliverables with our community.
We hope you will join us in Fall 2026 for a virtual book club exploring Relationship-Rich Education by Leo M. Lambert and Peter Felten. The plan is to meet 3–4 times over the semester to discuss how meaningful connections shape student learning and success.
Relationship-Rich Education draws on research and voices from across higher education to argue that strong relationships—with peers, faculty, and mentors—are the foundation of an excellent college experience. Lambert and Felten show that fostering these connections doesn’t require extraordinary resources, but rather intentional practices that create environments of high support and high expectations for all students.
These sessions will create space to reflect, connect, share ideas, and reimagine the role of relationships within your HSI context.
Stay tuned for dates and registration details!
STEM Education News
Upcoming Opportunity to Expand Your AI Teaching with NAIRR
The National AI Research Resource (NAIRR) Pilot Classroom Expansion Conferences are a series of upcoming in-person events designed to strengthen AI instruction across diverse academic settings. These conferences focus on:
- Building instructional capacity in AI
- Broadening participation across institution types
- Expanding access to cutting-edge computational resources
Participants will collaborate in peer groups organized by institution type, enabling meaningful discussions of shared challenges and opportunities in AI education.
Conference Tracks & Dates:
- 4-Year Colleges — June 4–5, 2026
- Research Emerging Small/Medium Institutions — June 4–5, 2026
- Research Emerging Large Institutions — June 18–19, 2026
- Minority-Serving Institutions — August 10–11, 2026
- Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) — Date TBA
- Community Colleges — Held February 2026
Space is limited, so be sure to submit the interest form here as soon as possible.
S-STEM Evaluation Lifecycle Guidebook
A new S-STEM Evaluation Lifecycle Guidebook from the American Association for the Advancement of Science S-STEM Resource and Evaluation Center offers a comprehensive roadmap for planning and implementing evaluation activities across the full lifecycle of an NSF S-STEM project. Designed for project leaders, evaluators, and research teams, the guide aligns evaluation strategies with project phases—from early planning through implementation and long-term outcomes (Years 0–6). It includes practical tools, frameworks, and guidance to support rigorous, evidence-based evaluation and continuous project improvement. This resource serves as a valuable companion for teams seeking to strengthen both proposal development and ongoing project assessment
Click here for access to the guidebook!
Rethinking Data for Real Impact
Data-Driven Decision Making (D3M) is a self-paced course designed to help higher education professionals move beyond compliance and use data as a tool for inquiry and change. Developed from a 2022 AAAS SEA Change webinar series, it brings together experts in institutional research, equity, and organizational learning. D3M challenges participants to ask better questions, uncover hidden disparities, and align data practices with their institution’s mission—transforming data into a driver for meaningful, equitable impact.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES
| Dates | Conference | Location | Submission Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 27 – June 18, 2026 | AAC&U Institute on Community Transformation https://www.aacu.org/event/institute-on-community-transformation | Salt Lake City, UT | past |
| June 15-19, 2026 | ISLS International Society of the Learning Sciences https://2026.isls.org | Irvine, CA | past |
| June 21–24, 2026 | ASEE American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference & Exposition https://saberbio.wildapricot.org | Charlotte, NC | past |
| July 9-12, 2026 | SABER SABER Annual Meeting https://saberbio.org/Annual-Meeting | Virtual (June 25th) East Lansing, MI (July 9-12) | past |
| July 26–30, 2026 | BCCE Biennial Conference on Chemical Education 2026 https://conferences.union.wisc.edu/bcce2026/ | Madison, WI | past |
| October 29 – 31, 2026 | SACNAS SACNAS Annual Conference https://www.sacnas.org/conference | Long Beach, CA | May 5, 2026 |
| Oct. 31 – Nov. 2, 2026 | HACU 40th Annual Conference https://hacu.net/annual-conference/ | Chula Vista, CA | past |
NEW HSI-RELATED PUBLICATIONS
Sanchez Lima A., Garza C.M., Tacloban M.J., Benabentos R., Wagner-Coello H.U., Hower J., Merkin R., Thomas K., Fuller E. (2026). Investigation of Mastery Math Lab Impact on Undergraduate College Algebra Student Success. International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science, and Technology 14, 66-85. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijemst.5316
Gonzalez, E. M., Perez, E. C., Deis, C., Hernandez, I. S., & Corral, J. (2026). EMBRACING LATINA LEARNERS’ ASSETS IN STEM (ELLAS) AT A HISPANIC SERVING INSTITUTION. Journal of Women and Minorities in Science and Engineering, 32(2), 21–46. https://doi.org/10.1615/JWomenMinorScienEng.2025051087
Have something for us to share with the UNIDOS mailing list?
Send your announcements and news to unidos@fiu.edu by the 20th of each month for inclusion in the next month’s newsletter.
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