educamexus.org

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About EDUCAMEXUS

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EDUCAMEXUS has been developed and is managed by the Consortium for North American Higher Education Collaboration (CONAHEC) headquartered at the University of Arizona in Tucson. CONAHEC is a network of more than 150 colleges and universities in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. EDUCAMEXUS programs and services are made possible through the joint efforts of CONAHEC, the Mexican Association of Universities and Institutions of Higher Education (ANUIES), the support of the Mexican Secretariat of Public Education (SEP), and the involvement of a variety of community based, educational and government agencies.

National Services

The services that EDUCAMEXUS offers nationwide are:

Mexican high school accreditation test

This program allows Mexican nationals who completed the 9th grade in the Mexican educational system to obtain a Mexican high school diploma from the Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) through the successful completion of an examination. This program is roughly equivalent to the GED program in the U.S. and allows those with a Mexican academic background and limited time to obtain their Mexican High School Certificate through independent study. The test is administered by the National Center for the Assessment of Higher Education of Mexico (CENEVAL) and the responsibility has been assigned to EDUCAMEXUS for administering this test in the United States. Initially, this opportunity was only offered in Arizona, but now the test is offered triannually in an ever-increasing number of cities throughout the United States. In September of 2005, EDUCAMEXUS will provide testing in 7 metropolitan areas of the United States. This is an excellent opportunity for Mexicans living in the U.S. to complete their high school education and continue with further studies or improve their employment qualifications.

Information and orientation by telephone 1-800-926-2444

Trained staff offer advice in Spanish on issues regarding access to post-secondary institutions on a state by state basis, information on having foreign credentials recognized, and ways of obtaining an official copy of a school certificate and/or educational diploma. The staff is also prepared to provide information on local centers for classes on General Educational Development (GED) test preparation, English as a second language, computer skills and general literacy, as well as elementary, middle, and high school courses across the country.

There is a current and increasing need for orientation in Spanish on educational issues to help those who would like to continue their own education or who are looking to acquire information so their children can attend an institution for higher education. Providing information in Spanish increases the possibility that they or their children will be able to continue studying. EDUCAMEXUS helps on a case by case basis and provides the appropriate advise for each specific concern.

Colegio de Bachilleres on-line high school program (Sistema de Enseñanza Abierto y a Distancia SEAD)

Colegio de Bachilleres is the largest public high school system in Mexico and now offers its high school program on-line. As a result, program contents can be studied from any computer with an internet connection. This program provides the opportunity for people who completed the 9th grade in any Spanish speaking country to finish their secondary education. Additionally, since it is offered on-line, it improves computer and independent study skills.

EDUCAMEXUS informs and assists with the registration process and instructs on the use of the web course tool for this program through our toll free number. Online higher education programs in Spanish

EDUCAMEXUS works closely with accredited universities in fostering the development and offering of long-distance based higher education programs aimed to become a viable option for the Hispanic community. The first partner on this project has been the Inter American University of Puerto Rico (IAUPR). IAUPR is the second largest university in Puerto Rico and has a long-standing tradition of experience in long-distance education. It offers associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees in various disciplines in Spanish. Their programs are a great opportunity for anyone who would like to continue their post-secondary education but whose immigration status and/or schedule limits opportunities to pursue traditional post-secondary programs. As a case in point, EDUCAMEXUS worked closely with the IAUPR to adapt its admission process, in order to make their programs accessible to this group and overcome the limitations of this underserved community.

Local services in southern Arizona

The EDUCAMEXUS Orientation and Educational Services Center was inaugurated in November 2004. EDUCAMEXUS is a unique model because it is the first educational center that combines educational programs in Spanish from various institutions that in the past had always been separated by geography, despite their complementary programs. Also, the center developed a network of international, educational, and community partners that offer educational programs for underserved groups. Information about these programs is also available at the EDUCAMEXUS Center, making it a “one-stop shop” for Spanish-language education opportunities. The following are the programs offered in an EDUCAMEXUS center:

Plaza Comunitaria

This program was developed by the National Institute for Adult Education (INEA) and the National Council of Life and Work (CONEVYT), both from Mexico. It offers more than 200 on-line training and skills development courses through the CONEVYT portal (http://www.conevyt.org.mx). The course offerings include literacy, elementary and middle school programs, and are available to adults at no cost, including books. This program is available for all Spanish speakers and certificates are awarded by the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico. EDUCAMEXUS offers free literacy, elementary and middle school classes through this program, and encourages those who finish it to continue on to high school.

Community Learning Centers (Centro Comunitario de Aprendizaje CCA)

The Community Learning Centers were created by the Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (ITESM) and offer more than 150 on-line courses in several areas through their portal (http://www.cca.org.mx), from skills development to entrepreneurship as well as on-line bachelor's and master's degrees. EDUCAMEXUS offers the basic computer skills course, which is taught at a minimal cost in the educational center. The student who completes all modules and tasks receives a certificate of completion from ITESM.

Due to the computer literacy skills they acquire, students will then be able to gain access to helpful information available on the internet. An increasing amount of educational information and programs are internet-based and this course opens these opportunities to them.

Colegio de Bachilleres on-line high school program (SEAD)

EDUCAMEXUS offers personalized help with this computer based program for Spanish speakers in Tucson .

Mexican High School Accreditation Test

This test is administered three times per year in the EDUCAMEXUS center. Also, reference materials and information on how to prepare for the test are offered at no cost.

Information about gaining access to post-secondary institutions or to programs offered on-line

EDUCAMEXUS provides orientation to those interested in admission to post-secondary institutions and the necessary information for them to initiate the admission process if they are eligible to attend the institutions. For those who are not eligible, we offer alternative programs.

There is a need for information in Spanish about admission to post-secondary education for high school graduates in Arizona. A good percentage of them are the first generation of their family to attend high school in the United States. Often, parents do not know how to approach the institutions and do not understand the admission process, frequently due to language barriers and differences in the educational systems between in U.S. and that of their home country.

EDUCAMEXUS provides information to parents and high school graduates about how to approach post-secondary institutions in Arizona and the admission eligibility requirements. For those who did not finish high school in the United States, we review each case and present the options available to them.

EDUCAMEXUS also has formed partnerships with institutions of higher education in Mexico that have accredited on-line post-secondary programs that can be offered to people living in the United States, and now EDUCAMEXUS works in raising awareness about these existing opportunities.

Information about other educational programs available in the community

The EDUCAMEXUS center has educational and community partners, which are organizations and institutions stationed in Tucson, that also provide services to underserved groups. If any of these programs would be helpful, the EDUCAMEXUS center disseminates the information.

The model of the EDUCAMEXUS center could be replicated at other institutions throughout the country and could offer the same services to other local Hispanic communities. These centers would have the advantage of knowing locally available programs and would thus provide better service specific to that community. 

EDUCAMEXUS works closely with post-secondary institutions to recognize the problems that Hispanics face in gaining access to higher education. EDUCAMEXUS also helps institutions in Mexico and the United States modify their requirements and admission processes to make them more accessible for the EDUCAMEXUS audience if they are interested in offering their programs to this community.