Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education Integrates Key Resources and Initiatives into the Presidents’ Alliance

COMMUNITY COLLEGE CONSORTIUM FOR IMMIGRANT EDUCATION INTEGRATES KEY RESOURCES AND INITIATIVES INTO THE PRESIDENTS’ ALLIANCE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2022
CONTACT: Jose Magaña-Salgado (jose@presidentsalliance.org) 

Washington, D.C.—The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education (CCCIE) are proud to announce that CCCIE will be integrating some of its key initiatives and resources into the Presidents’ Alliance. Nearly a third of the student population at community colleges nationwide comes from an immigrant background, which makes community colleges uniquely positioned to intentionally commit to immigrant and refugee student success. We are excited and confident that the transition of CCCIE’s initiatives into the Presidents’ Alliance will take our work to the next level by firmly embedding our initiatives into broader national higher education and workforce development movements that will increase immigrant and refugee students’ transition to further education, training, and careers.

By integrating select CCCIE initiatives and resources into the Presidents’ Alliance, CCCIE will increase the capacity of the Presidents’ Alliance to offer critical perspectives on best practices and educational and workforce development issues particularly relevant to community colleges and the diverse immigrant and refugee student population they serve. CCCIE will continue to share promising practices in immigrant education and workforce development on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal and will work with the Presidents’ Alliance to provide resources and technical assistance to the WES Global Talent Bridge Skilled Immigrant Integration Program, which offers communities an opportunity to advance their state and local skilled immigrant integration initiatives, and to support IMPRINT, a national coalition working to advance public policies and promising models that support the economic inclusion of immigrants and refugees who hold international credentials in the U.S.

Miriam Feldblum, Executive Director at the Presidents’ Alliance, stated: “CCCIE’s mission to increase the capacity of community colleges to support immigrant and refugee learners aligns strongly with the work of the Presidents’ Alliance. We have been deeply appreciative of our partnership with CCCIE, and now are thrilled to expand our ability to provide resources and technical assistance for community colleges through this integration of CCCIE initiatives and expertise into the Alliance.”

Belinda Miles, President of Westchester Community College, stated: “Since 2008, the Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, led by Westchester Community College, in Valhalla, NY, has worked to increase educational and career opportunities for immigrant and refugee students and strengthen the capacity of community colleges that serve them. We’re proud of our initiatives that have helped New Americans gain increased access to higher education, new careers, and more equitable and prosperous futures, and we are pleased that CCCIE’s work will be able to continue with greater impact as a part of the Presidents’ Alliance.”

Teresita Wisell, Executive Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, and Vice President for the Workforce Development and Community Education, Westchester Community College, stated: “It is a recognition of the potential of immigrants and refugees to contribute to our communities, our economy, and our nation that has motivated the CCCIE network to promote our initiatives and galvanize the community college sector in support of all members of our communities. We are delighted to enter into this new phase of our work by integrating some key initiatives and resources with the Presidents’ Alliance.”

 Jill Casner-Lotto, Director, Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education, stated: “Community colleges serve as a critical gateway for immigrants and refugees looking to advance their education, gain an economic foothold in the labor market, and integrate into the social fabric of their communities. We look forward to our enhanced partnership with the Alliance and are confident our collaboration will accelerate the success of an increasingly diverse immigrant and refugee student population.”

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The nonpartisan, nonprofit Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration brings college and university presidents and chancellors together on the immigration issues that impact higher education, our students, campuses, communities, and nation. We work to advance just, forward-looking immigration policies and practices at the federal, state, and campus levels that are consistent with our heritage as a nation of immigrants and the academic values of equity and openness. The Alliance is composed of over 550 presidents and chancellors of public and private colleges and universities, enrolling over five million students in 43 states, D.C., and Puerto Rico.

The Community College Consortium for Immigrant Education is a national network of community colleges and other professional organizations committed to building the capacity of community colleges to accelerate immigrant and refugee success and raise awareness of the essential role these colleges play in advancing immigrant and refugee integration in our communities and in our country. CCCIE members work to help immigrants and refugees further their education, succeed in training programs, and launch new careers in high-demand fields.