Center for Migrant Education grant aims to assist migrant students
Date of Release: 10/18/2006
SAN MARCOS —The Texas State University-San Marcos Center for Migrant Education received $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Assistance Migrant Program, which will fund a project aimed at assisting migrant students in their pursuit of a college education at Texas State.
The program offers financial and academic assistance to 50 migrant students from high schools in cities throughout central Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, where the highest concentration of migrant workers resides. Eligible students will receive funding to cover tuition, room and board, and a stipend for other expenses during their freshman year at Texas State.
“In Texas, 60 percent of Hispanics in college drop out after their first year,” said Frank Contreras, director of the Center for Migrant Education. “The objective is to get all 50 students to continue their education into their second year.”
The center will monitor the recipients throughout their remaining years at Texas State, and help them obtain financial aid and receive academic support. This program also contributes to the university’s effort to increase the Hispanic student population and become a Hispanic serving institution, said Contreras.
The program is also looking into finding first-year freshmen migrant students enrolled at Texas State during the fall 2006 semester, who might qualify for financial assistance for the Spring 2007 semester under this program. Students who wish to apply must be migrant students and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average.
In addition to providing financial and academic assistance, the program will also provide funds to bring the recipients’ parents to Texas State during orientation.
“We are excited to help these families who have great work ethics, whose children have little or no opportunities to go to college,” said Contreras.
For more information, contact Frank Contreras, director of the Center for Migrant Education at (512) 245-1365 or via email at fc10@txstate.edu.
SAN MARCOS —The Texas State University-San Marcos Center for Migrant Education received $2.2 million from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Assistance Migrant Program, which will fund a project aimed at assisting migrant students in their pursuit of a college education at Texas State.
The program offers financial and academic assistance to 50 migrant students from high schools in cities throughout central Texas and the Rio Grande Valley, where the highest concentration of migrant workers resides. Eligible students will receive funding to cover tuition, room and board, and a stipend for other expenses during their freshman year at Texas State.
“In Texas, 60 percent of Hispanics in college drop out after their first year,” said Frank Contreras, director of the Center for Migrant Education. “The objective is to get all 50 students to continue their education into their second year.”
The center will monitor the recipients throughout their remaining years at Texas State, and help them obtain financial aid and receive academic support. This program also contributes to the university’s effort to increase the Hispanic student population and become a Hispanic serving institution, said Contreras.
The program is also looking into finding first-year freshmen migrant students enrolled at Texas State during the fall 2006 semester, who might qualify for financial assistance for the Spring 2007 semester under this program. Students who wish to apply must be migrant students and have a minimum 2.0 grade point average.
In addition to providing financial and academic assistance, the program will also provide funds to bring the recipients’ parents to Texas State during orientation.
“We are excited to help these families who have great work ethics, whose children have little or no opportunities to go to college,” said Contreras.
For more information, contact Frank Contreras, director of the Center for Migrant Education at (512) 245-1365 or via email at fc10@txstate.edu.