Pathways to Higher Education for Latinos: Opportunities, Strategies, and Limitations

CJ’s May 2011 Workshop “Pathways to Higher Education for Latinos: Opportunities, Strategies, and Limitations” featured a panel of educators and students with a variety of experiences and a common message: staying in school and pursuing a higher degree will get you where you want to go.

You can find the notes from the workshop, as well as a number of resources for Latino youth in Virginia hoping to go on to college on this page.

Across Virginia and the nation Latinos have a lower high school graduation rate and are less likely to earn a college degree than their non-Hispanic peers. Only 30% of college aged Hispanics across the nation are enrolled in school, compared to 47% of their non-Hispanic peers. In Virginia 18% of Latinos in the class of 2010 dropped out of high school, compared with 8% of the general population.

Latino youth report a number of reasons for dropping out of school: the need to work to support their families, poor English skills, dislike of school, and the belief that they do not need further education for the careers they will pursue. Additionally, many Latino immigrant youth lack the documentation to attend college or, as is the case in Virginia, are deterred by having to pay out-of-state tuition, not qualifying for financial aid, and having few job prospects upon graduation.

Panelists at the CJ Workshop discussed the importance of supporting Latino high school students, encouraging them to stay in school and pursue their education and finding scholarships and other avenues to afford steep tuition rates when necessary. A representative from Mary Baldwin College emphasized the college’s interest in students from all walks of life and their dedication to helping make college affordable and attainable, regardless of citizenship and socioeconomic status. Two Latino VCU students talked about their involvement in the Hispanic College Fund and how participating in the Hispanic Youth Institute in high school set them on the path for success. A local guidance counselor shared experiences of the struggles of local students, particularly the undocumented, and pushed the importance of helping students make their education a priority. And founder of DREAM Activist Virginia and Co-Founder of the National Immigrant Youth Alliance Isabel Castillo told her story of putting herself through college and going on to advocate for a path to citizenship for undocumented youth like herself.

You can read the notes from the discussion that took place at the workshop by clicking here.
(http://cj-network.org/cj/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/2011MayCJNotes.doc)

And you can find the C-ville Weekly article on Isabel Castillo and the CJ May 2011 Workshop here:
http://www.c-ville.com/Article/Government/Immigrant_activist_fights_for_education_rights/?z_Issue_ID=11801605113414838.

 
Higher Education Resources for Latino Youth:

• The Hispanic College Fund: http://www.hispanicfund.org/  
• Hispanic Youth Institute in Virginia: http://www.hispanicfund.org/programs/hyi/regions/virginia
• Virginia Latino Higher Education Network (VALHEN): http://www.valhen.org/ is a state-wide organization serving as a networking structure to support, promote, and advocate for Latino success and advancement in higher education for the benefit and betterment of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

 
Higher Education Resources for Undocumented Immigrant Youth:

While Virginia policy states that undocumented students must pay out of state tuition, and federal regulations prevent undocumented students from receiving government funded financial aid, many immigrant youth have succeeded in acquiring scholarships, donations, and employment, making college an affordable, achievable path.

Scholarships: This 2010-2011 report from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund lists a number of college scholarships available for both documented and undocumented students: https://www.maldef.org/assets/pdf/Scholarship_List_2010_2011.pdf

The DREAM Act: (Development, Relief, and Education of Alien Minors Act)  is a legislative bill that would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children who go on to college or serve in the military. To date it has not been voted into law, but groups around the nation continue to advocate for this bill which would enable millions of immigrant youth. To learn more visit the Dream Activist Virginia page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dream-Activist-Virginia/111179795573492 and the Dream Activist Virginia Blog: http://www.dreamactivist.org/blog/tag/virginia/

State Policies on Admission and Tuition Rates for Undocumented Students: This new report from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities discloses state policies regarding the admission of undocumented students to college and access (or prohibition) to state aid or in-state tuition: http://www.congressweb.com/aascu/docfiles/2011.marchpm.pdf.  

These are some of the Virginia colleges open to all students, regardless of citizenship and documentation.

• Piedmont Virginia Community College: http://www.pvcc.edu/
• Liberty University has an online Spanish language degree program: www.luonline.com/estudia  
• Mary Baldwin: http://www.mbc.edu/
• Eastern Mennonite University: http://www.emu.edu/
• Virginia Commonwealth University: http://www.vcu.edu/
• Virginia State University: http://www.vsu.edu/  

Please send additional resources and information for this page to cj.cville@gmail.com.