Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis
Who We Are...
The Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis (HEC) presents a representative voice for higher education institutions in the St. Louis area. HEC serves as the catalyst, connector, communicator and collaborator of educational programs and services, and career and advocacy initiatives that enhance student’s accessibility to as well as their achievement in higher education and beyond.
HEC offers the community three federally funded TRIO Educational Opportunity Programs:
What We Do...
Through the collective effort of stakeholders, HEC serves as catalyst for change through advocacy and investment efforts in:
-
Education & Career Planning
-
Student Support & Success Services
-
Career and Workforce Transition
HEC’s TRIO Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) are federally funded by the U.S. Department of Education to support young and adult participants as they progress to and through higher education and into career employment. TRIO Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search and Educational Opportunity Centers provide free academic and financial advising, counseling & tutoring, access to educational resources and summer enrichment programs, and college and career planning. We are your one source for all things higher education.
Who We Serve...
HEC serves participants in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area which includes the following counties: St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Madison,
St. Clair, and Clinton. Pre-collegiate programs target middle and high school students and their parents, as well as adult learners in pursuit of a college degree. Through partnerships with secondary schools, institutions of higher education, community organizations, and business, TRIO EOP provide services for over 859 middle and high school students and over 4,000 adults annually.
CEO Statement
In 1963, The Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis was established by a group of college and university Chancellors and Presidents from the St. Louis metropolitan area who saw a need for coordination and discussion on issues that affect higher education institutions and to provide a representative voice for metropolitan St. Louis education.
Over fifty-five years later, our journey continues and is a work in progress as we rethink, recreate and reimagine our place within the St. Louis metropolitan community. We will continue to fuel this journey with patience and perseverance and through partnerships
with institutions of higher education, secondary schools, community organizations, families and individuals who share our mission, passion and determination to empower students and their families, and to educate our community.
Throughout the years we’ve received support from over 25 local universities, colleges, and public organizations. We’ve partnered with approximately 50 secondary schools, community organizations and public institutions from St. Charles County Missouri to Madison County Illinois. We are excited to deepen these relationships and establish new ones. We are confident that great things will continue to happen in the coming years when we work together.
Today, HEC of Metro St. Louis stands ready to serve as the catalyst, connector, communicator and collaborator of educational, career and advocacy initiatives that will enhance student’s accessibility to as well as their achievement in higher education and beyond… To be the one source for all things higher education in the metropolitan St. Louis area.
-Cassandra M. Pinkston
OUR MISSION
The Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis’ mission is to advance communication and cooperative activities among member institutions, secondary schools, related community organizations and individuals; to provide member colleges and universities the opportunity to meet to discuss topics of interest; and to collaborate on projects designed to enhance student’s accessibility to as well as their achievement in higher education.
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Our Trio Educational Opportunity Programs have served over 7,000 participants
Our participants continue to the next level of education
Over 9 counties served by our programs
ALUMNI - TRIO WORKS!
CHIBALE ANWISYE
Chibale Anwisye graduated from Gateway High School 2020 with a full scholarship and studied at Purdue. While in high school he served as the Robitics Team Captain which won numerous competitions and awards. He interned with the ETS program in 2021 and received a stipend. He is continuing his education in engineering.
MAKAYLA WATSON
Makayla Watson, Central Missouri Graduate “HEC Upward has helped me throughout high school to prepare for college. I not only had my first experience on a college campus and traveling out of state to Washington, DC with Upward
Bound, but I gained an internship opportunity with World Wide Technology for two summers.
These opportunities along with college prep classes and skill-building have allowed me to flourish throughout my college experience.”
RAVEN JONES-STEWART
My name is Raven Jones-Stewart and I am a proud mother of 3 boys and 4 step-children. I have always wanted to go back to school, but I was a little hesitant because of the obstacles I was battling in life at the time. I finally decided to do what I wanted and called National Louis University in Chicago and enrolled. I received a full scholarship from Inccrra towards my degree. I enrolled in 2020 of January and graduated in June of 2021 with my Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood. Going back to school was the best decision I could have made. It meant the world to show my children that the sky is the limit. I would like to say it is never too late to accomplish your goals, no matter what age you are. Sincerely, Raven Jones