Higher Education Consortium of Metropolitan St. Louis

Who We Are...

What We Do...

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:

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.

EDUCATIONAL TALENT SEARCH

UPWARD BOUND

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY CENTERS

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.