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CSE News

Texas Can Connect Foster Care and College Campuses
February 2019 - The Texas Legislature took an important step in 2015 to ensure that young people who have spent time in the state’s foster care system have the tools they need to succeed in college and into adulthood. Requiring that the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board designate a liaison for these students as they enter the state’s colleges and universities brought crucial attention to the issue.

SGA Bill Continues to Help Homeless Students This Semester
January 2019 - On Nov. 1, 2018, the Student Government Association passed the first major piece of legislation aiming to help homeless and food insecure students on campus. This semester, SGA plans to continue its efforts by holding a food drive and continuing work to set up an on-campus food pantry.

Las Comadres Program Honored for Achievement with UH Latina Students
October 2018 - Las Comadres, one of CSE’s pillar programs, is being recognized as an “Honorable Mention—Program to Watch” by Excelencia in Education.

CSE Director Wins James Emerson Award
June 2018 - Dr. Raven Jones, Director of the Center for Student Empowerment, has received the James Emerson Award, a prestigious honor that is awarded by the Education Reach for Texas.

CSE Supports Latina First-Generation College Students
June 2018 – CSE continues to support first-generation Latina students through their pillar program, Las Comadres, a mentoring program focused on supporting first-generation Latina students by offering culturally relevant conversations and connections with current UH Latina faculty and staff.

Center for Student Empowerment Hosts 4th Annual Black History Month Celebration
February 2018 - The Center for Student Empowerment (CSE) in collaboration with the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (student chapter) hosted their Fourth Annual Black History Month Celebration. This year’s theme was titled “Our City, Culture, and Community” – showing how black culture is celebrated throughout the city of Houston.

CSE featured in The Cougar
January 2018 - The Center for Student Empowerment (CSE) is featured in The Cougar for its efforts to support struggling students

Coca-Cola Foundation Supports First-Generation Students at UH
The University of Houston has been awarded a $200,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to fund the Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program.

CSE Welcomes New Program Coordinator
October 2016 – Tajuanda Montreuil serves as a Program Coordinator for the Center for Student Empowerment. She received her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Louisiana Tech University.

Auxiliary Services, CSE offer support for those with food insecurity
Auxiliary Services Department, in partnership with the Center for Student Empowerment recently donated about $2,000 in meal tickets to CSE’s Food Assistance Program. The latter works to aid low-income students with food instability and food shortage issues in obtaining healthy and nutritious meal options.

Summer Bridge
Summer 2017 – The Center for Student Empowerment (CSE) is helps New Coogs successfully transition from high school to college.

Introducing the CSE Ambassadors
May 2017 - The Center for Student Empowerments (CSE) welcomes its’ first batch of Ambassadors!

Teach Forward Houston Applications Open for Fall 2017
March 2017 - New Coogs admitted to the University of Houston for Fall 2017 are invited to apply for Teach Forward Houston. Teach Forward Houston is a prestigious fellowship developed in a partnership between the forward-thinking leaders of the Houston Independent School District and the University of Houston.

CSE Welcomes New Office Coordinator
February 2017 - As of February 6, 2017, Latise Carter serves as the Office Coordinator for the Center for Student Empowerment in the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services. Latise brings with her 10 years of customer service experience and 4 years of previous employment with the Texas Department of Human Services as a Texas Work Advisor II.

The Center for Student Empowerment supports access to higher education at the Career
February 18, 2017 - The Center for Student Empowerment (CSE) participated in the Houston Hispanic Forum’s 31st annual Career & Education Day (CED) at the George R. Brown Convention Center. CED is a free day-long family event in which approximately 13,000 students and their parents are exposed to career paths that lead to more than 55 career options.

Center for Student Empowerment celebrates Black History Month
February 20, 2017 - The Center for Student Empowerment (CSE) in collaboration with the University’s Black Alumni Association sponsored their third annual Black History Month celebration. This year’s theme was power – empower students through knowledge to be engaged in the political process.

CSE Welcomes New Program Coordinator
Sharlene Laud serves as the Program Coordinator for the Center for Student Empowerment and Teach Forward Houston partnership with Houston ISD. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Politic Science from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Center for Student Empowerment requests funds for programming, graduate assistant post
November 4th, 2016 -- During its presentation to the Student Fees Advisory Committee on Friday, the Center for Student Empowerment requested almost $42,000 in one-time funds alongside their base budget request of $131,602 for the fiscal year 2018.

Center for Student Empowerment Welcomes New Program Coordinator
October 2016 -- Jamesia King joined the Center for Student Empowerment as Program Coordinator on September 20, 2016. In this role, she will empower the UH community to support diversity in education by collaborating with campus partners and coordinating program activities to promote student success.

Center for Student Empowerment Receives Recognition For HISD Partnership
July 2016 -- The HISD College Readiness Dept. works closely with HISD high schools to create and maintain a college-bound culture. The district saw a major increase in college applications and FAFSA completions this past school year, with a 23-percentage-point increase in college applications over last year and a 10-percentage-point increase in financial-aid applications.

High prices, little support create campus hunger problem ‘nobody’ expected
October 26th, 2016 -- Accounting senior Dalinda Oliver had to make a choice between meal plan or classes when she moved to Bayou Oaks.

Auxiliary Services, CSE to offer low-income students healthier food options
December 3rd, 2015 -- The Auxiliary Services Department in partnership with the Center for Student Empowerment recently donated more than $3,000 in food items to CSE’s Food Assistance Program. The latter works to aid low-income students with food instability and food shortage issues in obtaining healthy and nutritious meal options.

UH DREAMzone Training Promoting Awareness of Undocumented Students’ Challenges, Needs
November 17th, 2015 -- The University of Houston is one of the nation’s most diverse universities. Among UH’s student body are Dream Scholars, who are following a pathway toward their college degrees, as well as citizenship. Through UH’s Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), the Cougar community can better understand and support these students’ challenges during their academic journeys.

SFAC: Center for Students with Disabilities, Urban Experiences aim to branch out with FY 2017
October 27th, 2015 -- The Center of Students with Disabilities, Center for Student Empowerment, and the University Career Services presented their request on Monday afternoon.

New Director of Center for Student Empowerment Announced
July 28th, 2014 – Dr. Raven Jones will join the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Services as the new director of the Center for Student Empowerment effective August 4, 2014.

Fighting for a change in leadership
February 13th, 2014 -- The Division of Student Affairs has been wrestling with one of its departments as students and administrators have stood at odds with one another.

SFAC: Groups short on space, services
November 6th, 2013 -- Office space, marketing changes and overlooked students — from commuters to aged-out foster youth — were the topics of choice at this fall’s first day of Student Fees Advisory Committee meetings.

Series teaches tricks to success
October 22nd, 2013 -- The Mentorship Series, hosted by the Center for Student Empowerment and Institutional Access, invites prominent local and national figures to speak to business-minded students and showcase what it means to be successful.

UH alum talks about walking the stars
February 6th, 2012 -- Bernard A. Harris Jr., UH Class of ‘78, will be the guest speaker for UH’s Center for Student Empowerment Mentorship Series from 6 to 8 p.m. today inside the World Affairs Lounge of the University Center.

Mayor talks to campus about city water leaks
September 14th, 2011 -- Students were treated to hot coffee, finger foods, and an explanation of why pipe leaks are causing water shortages by Mayor Annise Parker Tuesday night in the University Center Underground World Affairs lounge.

Student-Produced 'Undergrad the Musical' Explores Campus Life April 23
April 16th, 2010 -- When friends Damian and Dru enter college, their lives take drastically different turns. For Damian, it's a turn for the worse as he adopts some bad habits that may lead to an unproductive start to his university experience.