Undocu-What? Supporting Educational Dreams for Undocumented Students NACADA Region 1: March 8, 2017 Mehegan Murphy & Colleen Yee Bunker Hill Community College Boston, MA
“ Access without support is not opportunity” -Cathy Ergstrom and Vincent Tinto
“ It was basically the only option to actually continue my education because…there Access was nothing to help you to continue your education financially”
• Define undocumented • List some of the barriers and challenges Goals that undocumented students face • Use your magic wand on your campus
Definitions
“By definition, an undocumented Undocumented person is a foreign national who: (1) Entered the United States without inspections or with fraudulent documents; OR (2) Entered legally as a nonimmigrant but then violated the terms of his or her status and remained in the United States without authorization.” -National Immigrant Law Center - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Documented International Students (hold a student visa)
Immigration policy as an Executive Order, that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16 th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year Deferred Action work permit and exception from for Childhood deportation (USCIS) Arrivals - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (DACA) • $465 to apply • Provides individuals with a SSN, a work authorization permit, and a two-year reprieve from deportation
11.2 million Undocumented immigrants of all ages 1.1 million Undocumented children under the age of 18 Let’s look at 65,000 the numbers Undocumented students graduate from high school every year 7,000-13,000 Undocumented students enrolled in college throughout the U.S. -Educators For Fair Consideration
Federal, State and Local Policy
K-12: • U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all children are entitled to a public What does education, regardless of citizenship or immigration status (Plyer v Doe, 1982) this mean in terms of access to Higher Education: education? • There is no federal law that prohibits the admission of undocumented immigrants to U.S. colleges and universities • States can make their own provisions
Connecticut States with tuition equity law or policy. New York Tuition Equity for Massachusetts State where DACA grantees may be eligible Undocumented to pay in-state tuition rates at some colleges and universities. Students and Rhode Island State with tuition equity policies at some DACA Grantees colleges and universities. for Region 1 Maine States that do not have any known tuition law New Hampshire or policy. Undocumented or DACA grantees in States Vermont these states may be able to enroll in colleges and universities, however, they may have to pay out-of-state tuition. Source: United We Dream
Bunker Hill Community College
Student Demographics • 14,000 students enrolled each semester • 60% female • 64% are students of color • Average age: 27 years old Bunker Hill • 3 out of 5 are on financial aid Community • 3 out of 4 work; 1 out of 3 work 30 or more hours College DACA and Undocumented Students • How many? • About 12,000 DACA residents in Massachusetts (USCIS)
Challenges and Barriers
• First-generation students • “I didn’t know I could go to college” • Lack of understanding and resources at the high school and college level • College application process Is college for • Psychological Impacts me? • Depression, fear of deportation, family separation, and uncertainty of what the future holds “I mean psychologically, you have no idea how hard it is. Like it’s huge talking from the point of dignity, as a human being, you know, just trying to get (an) education.”
• Not eligible for federal financial aid • Most undocumented students pay out of pocket • In-state vs out-of-state at BHCC • In-state: $528 per 3 credit class Paying for • Out-of-state: $1,146 per 3 credit class College • Lack of understanding and resources at the high school and college level “So even though it was a place I initially didn’t want to go I am kind of almost sad to leave it. But I’m grateful for Bunker Hill being here because if not I don’t think I would be able to afford to go to school.”
• Major and career choices • DACA • What happens after graduation? • Undocumented students will still be undocumented even as they attain “Is it worth it?” higher education “Registering with the school was easy, but the thought of like, “Is this even worth it?” like I’m going to go there, waste money…will there be a point where I can say, “Okay - accomplish something? And I don’t know. It’s kind of hard taking a risk”
The Role of Advising
• Creating an inclusive environment • Educating yourself and recognizing when you don’t have the answers • Being visible • Know your curriculum Academic • Language Advising “When undocumented students see that student affairs professionals know about and demonstrate an ethic of care regarding their unique realities, it increases the students opportunity ad likely hood to develop trust with student affairs professionals” Gildersleeve et al. (2010) p.6
“It’s kind of hard to tell someone your status, but then when I came to her, she was pretty open with me, and I felt comfortable with her Academic talking about it. And even though she didn’t know that much about it at the beginning, Advising she did her own research so the next time I came by, she had a little more of an idea about it and she was interested about the subject.”
“…maybe having a special, magical Magical advisor that had all of the answers would Advisor be helpful.”
Demonstrating an Ethic of Care
Internal Find Partners Communication External Visibility Communication
• Campus Allies Find Partners • Community Based Organizations • Coalition of Colleges Internal Educating the campus community • Sharing student voices Communication • Website • External High school partnerships and community • Communication based organizations Creation of a task #UndocuAlly stickers • • Visibility force Bulletin board • Website Resource pages • •
The Undocumented • Started Fall 2016 Student Task • Purpose and goals Force • Membership
“It’s possible because we are doing it, and I know it’s hard. Everybody has problems, but it’s possible.” “It’s going to get tough, but you can’t give up. You need some type of support, because it’s hard to do it by yourself.” What “You need to know we are motivated as heck.” Students Want You to “Just think about the circumstances that we’re in and we’re still here every day. I mean we’re still here.” Know “Invest without fear.” “See us not as a burden, but a potential, because (people) need to open up their minds and see the true potential behind every individual.”
What will YOU do with your magic wand?
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