California State University, Dominguez Hills
Being An Ally:
Supporting the Needs of
Undocumented Students
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Agenda
• Policies impacting undocumented students’ access
to higher education
• Best practices for supporting undocumented
students on your campus
• CSUDH campus resources
• Financial Aid processes
• Student voices
“…just to know that people
actually care and want to see you
make a difference and be
successful… that means a lot.”
-CSUDH Undocumented Student
Who are Undocumented Students?
– Born outside the U.S
– Many have lived in U.S. for significant portion of their
lives
– Some enter U.S. with tourist visa and chose to stay after
visa expired
– Some reside without any form of documentation
– They pass through our classrooms and offices every day
without us knowing it
What challenges do undocumented
students face due to their status?
– Not eligible for federal financial aid programs and
federally funded programs
– No drivers license (for some)
– No SSN, therefore limited in qualifying for anything that
requires this form of identification (ID)
– Limited work authorization, paid internships &
fellowships
– Limited travel when official ID is required
– May not be eligible to work in chosen profession after
graduation
Policies/Legislation
AB 540
DACA
• Allows eligible CA high
school graduates to pay
in state tuition regardless
of immigration status.
• Allows some
undocumented youth who
are “in school” or who have
a high school equivalency to
receive a temporary deferral
from deportation and be
eligible to work and travel.
• Other opportunities for
driving privileges,
professional licensure, and
credentialing vary by state.
AB 130 &131
• Allows eligible AB 540
students access to some
types of CA financial aid
and scholarships.
Best Practices: AB540
•AB540 – Ally Best Practices
– Be knowledgeable about AB540 eligibility
requirements
– Be knowledge about AB540 benefits and negatives
– Be knowledgeable about completion of NonResident Tuition Exemption Form (a.k.a., AB540
Affidavit)
– Be able to assist students with completion of AB540
Affidavit and proof of residency paperwork, as
needed.
Best Practices: CA Dream Act
•CA Dream Act – Ally Best Practices
– Be knowledgeable about CA Dream Act benefits and
negatives (AB130 & AB131)
– Be knowledgeable about CA Dream Act application
process
– Be able to refer students to on-campus (financial aid
office) or off-campus (community organizations) partners
that can assist students with CA Dream Act application.
Best Practices: DACA
•DACA – Ally Best Practices
– Be knowledgeable about DACA benefits and negatives
– Be knowledgeable about DACA application process
– Refer students to community agencies that assist
students with DACA applications.
– Write letters of support for students to include in DACA
application.
– Consider contributing to DACA scholarship programs.
Best Practices
• Identify other allies on your campus and build a coalition
that includes undocumented students
• Identify resources such as scholarships, support groups
• Inform the campus community by providing trainings
• Keep abreast of policy updates/changes
• Advocate for campus policies that support undocumented
students
• Advocate for the inclusion of AB540 and CA Dream Act
information in all campus resources (outreach, admissions,
financial aid, student support programs, departments, etc.)
• Support your campus’ undocumented student group or
help create one
Best Practices: CSU Dominguez Hills
• Undocumented Student Group- Espiritu de
Nuestro Futuro
• Undocumented Student Allies Coalition
(USAC)
• Undocumented Student Allies Training
• Displaying the DREAMer Ally Decal
– The decal should be displayed in an area belonging
solely to the individual who has received it. This
will alleviate confusion for a student entering the
office at large and allow them to confidently reveal
their status to an ally.
• Ally Contract
• Dream Center Task Force
– Dreamer Focus Groups
– Dreamer Testimonials Film
– Dream Center Proposal
FINANCIAL AID PROCESS
The CA Dream Act Application
Students without lawful immigration status, who
qualify for an AB540 nonresident tuition
exemption:
•
CA Dream Application is completed instead of FAFSA
(dream.csac.ca.gov)
•
Used to determine eligibility for state and institutional
need based scholarships and grants
•
Non-SSN Cal Grant GPA verification form is still required, in
addition to the Dream Application, for Cal Grant consideration
•
The Admission application fee waiver is also available to
students without lawful immigration status, who will qualify for
an AB540 nonresident tuition exemption & meet the income
guidelines
The CA Dream Act Application
Gift Aid
Scholarships
Students should check with the institution’s
website if they need to complete a
separate application
Grants
Self-help Aid
Private Loans
Employment opportunities
What Happens After the
Application is Complete?
After successfully completing the Dream application the student
will be able to see the Confirmation and CalSAR Comments.
Students should:
•
•
•
•
•
Check for errors and make sure that the college or university
the student plans on attending is listed in the School Section.
Students can be selected for verification and may need to
submit additional documentation.
Submit to the school any requested documents needed to
verify eligibility.
Once eligibility is determined the student will be notified
regarding their award.
Students must review their award and respond by accepting or
declining the awards.
Types of Gift Aid (Scholarships)
• Applying for Scholarships may require different
applications and there may be different deadlines
and requirements. Read all scholarship
applications carefully.
• Scholarship information is available on our website
at www.csudh.edu/scholarships. Be sure to use
the “Search for More Scholarships” tab for tips and
outside scholarship information.
Types of Gift Aid (Grants)
• Cal Grants (A & B)
• Chafee Grant (www.chafee.csac.ca.gov)
• Middle Class Scholarship (MCS)
• CSU - State University Grant (SUG)
• CSU - Educational Opportunity Program (EOP)
Types of Self-help Aid
• Dream Loan Program
– New Student loan program for California
Dream Act students.
• Private Loans
– Apply with co-signer
– Jewish Free Loan Association – Interest Free!
www.jfla.org
• Employment Opportunities
– Student assistant employment on campus for
students with authorization to work (DACA)
Things To Remember
• Complete a new CA Dream Act Application
every academic year between January 1
and March 2
• Submit all required documents as soon as
possible or by specified deadlines
• Follow up with college or university
regarding financial aid award
• Ask questions
Resources
Policy/Legislation
Advocacy
• Immigrant Legal
Resource Center
• Educators for Fair
Consideration
www.ilrc.org
• National Immigration
Law Center
www.nilc.org
www.ef4c.org
• United We Dream
www.unitedwedream.org
Q&A
Thank You
Mayra Soriano
masoriano@csudh.edu
Student Speakers:
Paloma Granados & Maria Villar
Marcela Vega
mvega@csudh.edu