Dear ILACHE members and colleagues:     

Welcome to our Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education (ILACHE) website. Here you will find information about our organization, higher education news and events, and new and on-going initiatives including details about our annual conference, leadership institute, professional development opportunities for students, faculty and staff as well as student scholarships, and membership engagement opportunities. I invite you to become an active ILACHE member and give to our organization so we can continue to provide scholarships to deserving students and develop our initiatives.

Although we have made progress in terms of Latino access to higher education for both students and professionals, Latino student graduation rates and faculty and staff representation remain low, IBHE Hispanic Employment Plan Public Universities. In the last 5 years we have seen the growth of federally designated Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s) in Illinois and across the country, but with questionable success for Latinos. The current COVID-19 pandemic has added to the challenges at our colleges and universities especially the Latinx community. Moreover, Illinois institutions of higher education have reported that students are stopping-out in larger numbers or dropping-out from higher education altogether. At the federal level, the policies of the Trump administration have negatively impacted vulnerable communities including minorities and low income and undocumented students.

Therefore, today, more than ever, it is imperative that ILACHE continues to be the voice for Latinos in higher education. However, we cannot do it alone. We need you to reaffirm your commitment to ILACHE and remain informed about issues that affect the Latino higher education community in the state and the country so that you can be a change agent. My colleagues and I are working every day to support our shared Latino higher education agenda. We invite you to join us as we continue to transform higher education in Illinois and beyond.

Enhorabuena,