The Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL) is hosting the third annual conference focused on equity and access to higher education for immigrant and undocumented students.

Since 2016, CESCaL has hosted the annual conference to ensure access and equity to higher education for immigrant and undocumented youth by ensuring those who work with them received expert training on how to mentor, counsel, and advise future college candidates. CESCaL chose to address this specific student population due to CESCaL’s commitment to advocate for marginalized student groups, improve effective practices among educators, provide a forum for collaboration and networking, problem solve critical training issues, and provide ongoing professional development.

Pre-conference survey results from the April 2016 event indicate there is much work to be done! A pre-survey of conference attendees revealed that while 81.87% of participants reported the desire to be a strong ally, and 81.50% reported feeling empowered to advocate for immigrant and undocumented students, less than fifty percent (47.68%) feel confident advising them. Less than 60% (59.43%) of participants reported being knowledgeable about the laws and rights of immigrant and undocumented students.

The conference goal is to teach and empower school counselors and college access partners with the:

• Knowledge of laws and rights of immigrant and undocumented students and resources for students and families.
• Attitudes necessary to take personal responsibility as advocates for immigrant and undocumented students.
• Skills to navigate the college application process, locate funding options, access post-secondary opportunities, and utilize culturally competent techniques to mentor, counsel, and advice future college candidates.

Currently, millions of undocumented immigrant students and families:

• Are eager to pursue postsecondary education
• Face significant barriers to educational attainment
• Are unaware of the financial opportunities available to them
• Are subject to institutional gatekeeping that impacts access to post-secondary opportunities
• Graduate at drastically lower rates than U.S. born citizens
• Only 5 -10 percent of undocumented high school graduates go on to enroll in college (College Board, 2009).

The two-day conference will take place on Monday, April 23, 2018 and Tuesday, April 24, 2018. The conference will include workshops, student panel, keynote speakers, and a undocu-friendly college and resource fair.

For more information and to register, please visit their official website: Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCaL)

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Categories: UndocuAlly

Tags: California, conference, education, event, Immigration, undocumented