"There doesn't seem to be anything involved which assists in getting to 1500 hours from the 500 minimum."
A x A,
Yep, that's the problem built into the system these days...and needs to be addressed by the carriers if supply is really all that critical. Some carriers seem to be addressing that by setting up CFI-to-regional programs but I don't see mention of that in the AWA announcement.
Inter-American University is in SJU and has an AABI-certified flight program:
Inter American University of PR ? School of Aeronautics
Maybe AWA feels it's easier for them to get to the broke college students than the other way around so they're doing interviews there ?