The Coalition of Higher Education for Immigrant Students was formed during the fall of 1999 to support immigrant students in the Gulfton community, which runs roughly between Chimney Rock and Hillcroft and Highway 59 and Bellaire in Southwest Houston. Since January of 2000, the Coalition has broadened its focus to assist immigrants from the entire Houston area, including students from the contiguous districts of Alief, Spring, Aldine, Fort Bend, Pasadena and Spring Branch.

Goals

To develop Collaborative Partnerships: This will take place with institutions of higher education such as universities and colleges, school district personnel and community organizations.

To conduct Educational Outreach: This includes counseling to students and distribution of information to the community such as parents, counselors, organizations, etc.

To secure Funding: Identify scholarships available to immigrant students and solicit contributions.

To support Research and Policy Development: This is done in conjunction with research centers and state legislators interested in changing current policies that impede immigrant students from going to college.

History

Founded in 1999, the Coalition of Higher Education for Immigrant Students is an area-wide organization dedicated to identifying and removing the barriers immigrant students face when trying to go to college. So far, the Coalition has worked with  hundreds of students who come from a wide array of countries including Bolivia, Bosnia, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Honduras, Iran, Lebanon, Mexico, Nicaragua and Venezuela.