CHUD's Colonias program receives
federal grant for education efforts

Texas A&M's Center for Housing and Urban Development has received a $396,773 federal grant for its Colonias program to help migrant and seasonal farm workers and their older children earn the equivalent of a high school diploma.

“The Texas A&M University CHUD Colonias program has made great strides in helping our children receive a college education," said U. S. Rep. Rubén Hinojosa. "This grant offers the support our low-income and migrant students need to get ahead. I’m very pleased the Colonias program was a recipient of the grant for this extremely important program."

The High School Equivalency Program supports state and local efforts in assisting migratory and seasonal farm workers, or their children, who are 16 years or older and not currently enrolled in school, to earn diplomas.

With the funding, which is expected to last five years, CHUD's Colonias program, which is housed in the Texas A&M College of Architecture, will also be able to provide individual guidance, group guidance and counseling opportunities as well as cultural and educational field trips for eligible students.

"CHUD continues to help our students fulfill their dreams," said Hinojosa.

“One of the major higher education goals of this administration is to become the number one nation in college graduates,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “This program will help some migrant students go to college and support that effort, or at the very least get gainful employment and support the workforce in this global economy.”

- Posted: Sept. 6, 2010 -

Contact:   Phillip Rollfing, prollfing@archone.tamu.edu or 979.458.0442.