HCC joins leading colleges in welcoming new Afghan students

Dec 2, 2021

Houston Community College (HCC) has joined other institutions of higher education across the nation in helping Afghan refugees find training in technical, language and workforce programs.

The effort is a collaboration with Welcome.US, a nonprofit organization which seeks to provide direction and support to new arrivals from Afghanistan as they seek training for meaningful careers and employment.

“I support HCC being one of Welcome.US' 'Leading 30',” said Chancellor Cesar Maldonado, Ph.D., P.E., “because Houston, like HCC, is a very diverse community. HCC ranks first among community colleges in the nation in the number of international students, evidence that we are committed to continuing our work as a ‘welcoming’ college.”

HCC is participating with The University of Texas at El Paso and other institutions through Welcome.US to explore opportunities to assist Afghan refugees in their higher education pursuits with the range of support that refugees and international students often need.

Other participating colleges include California State University, Sacramento, Virginia Commonwealth University, Northern Virginia Community College, Central Washington University, San Jose State University, University of California, Riverside, The University of Texas at San Antonio, Alamo Community College, Pima Community College, The University of Texas at Arlington, Colorado State University, Colorado University Denver, Salt Lake Community College, the University of Illinois Chicago, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Indiana University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, Texas Women’s University, and the University of Oregon.