The Supporting Undocumented Students’ College and Career Equity: Strategies for Success 2024 Convening (SUCCESS) was hosted by Rice University March 29-30. It was held in partnership with Immigrants Rising, the Higher Ed Immigration Portal, the President’s Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and TheDream.US.
During the event, more than 300 educators gathered to take part in two days of workshops and seminars that reinforced a commitment to equip learning institutions with cutting-edge practices and resources that support the educational and career equity outcomes for undocumented students, including nonemployment-based experiential learning models, pathways to graduate and professional programs and career development for undocumented students.
President Reginald DesRoches spoke to the crowd as he welcomed them for breakfast before the conference at the Houston Marriott Medical Center/Museum District and reinforced the university’s commitment to addressing the challenges facing undocumented students.
“By hosting this event in Houston, Rice University recognizes the significance of coming together in the face of national and local uncertainty,” DesRoches said. “Texas is a home to the second largest population of undocumented persons. The state holds significance as a pioneer in adopting tuition equity policies as far back as 2001 and acting as a catalyst for other states to follow suit.”
DesRoches also shared his experience of being an immigrant from Haiti, growing up in New York and his eventual rise to accomplishment in higher education.
“The topics I’ll be discussing at this convening are very close to me, and they are the issues that I’m interested in as a university president and as a U.S. citizen,” he said.
Find out more about SUCCESS at higheredimmigrationportal.org.
