The Houston Community College Board of Trustees respectfully endorses the continuation of polices and legislation that continue to build Houston and the great State of Texas as leaders in educational access, public safety, economic development and resolves to support HCC students and the Houston community through its lobbying and outreach efforts.

1. RESOLUTION BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF
HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ENDORSING THE CONTINUED SUPPORT OF NON-DISCRIMINATING POLICIES AND
LEGISLATION TO PROTECT ALL HCC STUDENTS
WHEREAS, a civil, safe, and open environment is fundamental to the educational mission of
Houston Community College ("HCC"); and
WHEREAS HCC values all its students; and
WHEREAS, the State of Texas and the Houston community rely on HCC to be an open-admission
public institution of higher education, providing a conduit of opportunity for all students to
achieve higher education and "to prepare individuals in our diverse community for life and work in
a global and technological society" (Tex. Educ. Code § 130.0011; HCC Board Policy AD); and
WHEREAS, HCC's students depend on HCC to provide a safe and secure learning environment in
which they can prepare to become productive members of the Texas community; and
WHEREAS, employers in the Houston area and the great state of Texas depend on HCC to educate
and train its workforce; and
WHEREAS, HCC's university partners depend on HCC to be a pipeline of university prepared
students for filling the needs for advanced degrees in all fields; and
WHEREAS, the Texas Constitution guarantees equality under the law and prohibits discrimination
on the basis of national origin, and it is the policy of HCC to not discriminate on the basis of race,
color, age, religion, national origin, disability, veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation,
and gender identity and gender expression, (Tex. Const. art. I, § 2; HCC Board Policy FA); and
WHEREAS, it is the policy of HCC and the State of Texas to not deny admission to public post-
secondary institutions because of a student's national origin, (Tex. Const. art. I, § 2; HCC Board
Policies FA and FB); and
WHEREAS, in recognition of the importance of higher education for the public good and economic
development it has been the policy of HCC and the State of Texas under the Texas DREAM Act, to
grant in-state tuition to all students, regardless of immigration status, who have lived in Texas
continuously for three (3) years and have graduated from a public or private high school in Texas
or received the equivalent of a high school diploma in Texas (Tex. Educ. Code § § 54.052, 54.053;
HCC Board Policy FDA); and
WHEREAS, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") Department policy
indicates that ICE officers are subject to certain restrictions upon entering college campuses, and
should exercise discretion in the prosecution of high school and college students, (ICE Director
Memorandum Regarding Enforcement Actions at or Focused on Sensitive Locations, issued
October 24, 2011, updated August 22, 2016; ICE Director Memorandum Regarding Exercising
Prosecutorial Discretion Consistent with the Civil Immigration Enforcement Priorities of the
Agency for the Apprehension, Detention and Removal of Aliens, issued June 17, 2011; ICE Director
Memorandum Regarding Secretary Napolitano's [Department of Homeland Security]

2. Memorandum Concerning the Exercise of Prosecutorial Discretion for Certain Removable
Individuals Who Entered the United States as a Child, issued June 12, 2012); and
WHEREAS, the HCC governing board believes the elimination or weakening of policies and statutes
that prevent discrimination or prevent or limit access to higher education of any group of students
would compromise the welfare and safety of all students, and jeopardize the economic well-being
of the State of Texas.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Houston Community College Board of Trustees
respectfully endorses the continuation of polices and legislation that continue to build Houston
and the great State of Texas as leaders in educational access, public safety, economic
development and resolves to support HCC students and the Houston community through its
lobbying and outreach efforts; and
FURTHER, the Houston Community College Board of Trustees opposes sharing information about
students' immigration status unless required by law, court order, or subpoena; and
FURTHER, the Houston Community College Board of Trustees opposes the release of private
information, including immigration status, unless required to by law, court order, or
subpoena; and
FURTHER, the Houston Community College Board of Trustees opposes changes to Texas laws on
determination of resident status as used in higher education, including but not limited to the
Texas Dream Act (Tex. Edu . Code §§ 54.052, 54.053).
Passed and adopted by the Houston Community Board of Trustees on the 19th day of January,
2017.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hands and have
caused the seal of Houston Community College to be affixed.
Board Chair
HCC Board of Trustees
Board Secretary
HCC Board of Trustees