Professor Van Ry

Several years ago, California State University, Chico financial aid advisor MaiHoua Lo spent countless hours preparing a bilingual presentation for the families of Hmong American high school seniors who had received letters of admission.

Lo’s presentation would coincide with the university’s spring preview, in which academic deans and student services officials welcome onto campus all high school seniors who have been admitted, along with their families, in efforts to coax them into enrolling in the fall. Many parents of Hmong students lack college degrees, so Lo felt that extra outreach was essential. She even called the families to explain the importance of the university’s open house.

But, none of them turned out for the event — an outcome that frustrated Lo.

She and her Hmong colleagues from Chico State shared such anecdotes last week during the annual conference of Asian Pacific Americans in Higher Education (APAHE). Since its 1987 inception, the organization has developed programs and addressed issues impacting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as the difficulties and disparities faced by some of the ethnic subgroups. <Read more.>

Via Lydia Lum, Diverse Issues in Higher Education.