Texas Border Business
McAllen, TX – South Texas College and the U.S. Department of Education have announced a partnership that will help foster a flexible and affordable path to education for migrant and seasonal farmworkers in South Texas.
U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, was in attendance at a special check signing ceremony on August30 to announce over $1.9 million in federal funds to STC through the Department of Education’s High School Equivalency Program (HEP).
The funds have been awarded to South Texas College to support eligible migrant and seasonal farmworkers from Hidalgo and Starr Counties, and their eligible family members. The purpose of the grant is to help individuals who did not graduate from high school to obtain the equivalent of a high school diploma and transition to postsecondary education or training in a career pathway.
“Completing a high school equivalency program is a critical first step to a better paying job and quality of life for families who never had the opportunity to complete high school,” said South Texas College President, Dr. Shirley A. Reed. “A helping hand leads to a better quality of life for these hard working families, and leads to regional prosperity and social mobility.”
STC will receive the funds over a five-year period which began on July 1, 2019 and will last until June 30, 2024.
The program will serve 500 migrant and seasonal farmworkers through a five-year needs-based model that will help them complete their GED plus an Industry Recognized Certification Career Pathway training, certificate or degree.
“I came to Congress to advance access to quality education for the people of South Texas. Education is critical to expanding opportunity and growing both a local and national economy,” Cuellar said. “These federal funds for South Texas College will provide students the necessary resources and skills so they are able to participate in a 21stCentury workforce.”
STC’s Department of Continuing, Professional, and Workforce Education (CPWE) will manage the grant. Funding will be used for personnel to provide oversight, coordination of the project, individualized case management support, supplies, tuition, fees, fuel allowances for HEP participants, and for the external evaluation of the project.
CPWE will provide the opportunity for those most in need to attain the equivalent of a high school diploma and postsecondary education or training.
“STC has a long history of helping migrant workers and providing GED and training,” said STC CPWE Director Olivia De La Rosa. “This grant will help us provide additional support and training to these individuals.”
