KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE Supporting First Generation and

KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE Supporting First Generation and Undocumented Students

Challenges Students Face • Under-represented populations face multiple challenges • Financial • Academic • Emotional • Physical • Makes wrap-around, long-term services highly beneficial

Challenges Students Face • Multiple categories • Homeless, unaccompanied • Undocumented • 1 st generation, low-income, etc… • May live with family members without legal custody • May be living alone or with friends • Parents may live in another country/speak other languages • Mixed status families • May not be aware of status

Challenges Student Face • Fear and trauma • Process of coming here can be traumatic • See parents/siblings deported and/or arrested • Afraid of authority figures • Hear others talk negatively about them • Cultural norms may be different • Higher education is VERY complex • Student circumstances VERY complex • Case-by-case management 4

Strengths Students Bring • May speak multiple languages • Able to navigate 2 or more cultures • Resilient- have handled so many challenges that college may seem quite manageable • May be mature beyond their years • Desire and motivation is strong- want to be proud • May not be lured by the “traditional” college student life (drinking, partying, etc…) • Often capable of multi-tasking • Are sometimes more responsive to mentoring since they know they need help

Climate & Messaging Matters What kinds of messaging exist in your schools and communities around first generation and immigrant students?

Signal to Students that You are Open to Listening to Them

Legal Information Regarding Undocumented Students • There is no federal law that prohibits the admission of undocumented immigrants to U. S. colleges and universities. • No federal law requires students to prove citizenship in order to enter U. S. institutions of higher education. • However, undocumented students cannot get federal student aid like grants, loans and work-study.

Undocumented Immigrants & ICE • Universities are only required to report on non-immigrant (International) students who utilize a VISA. • FERPA laws prohibit colleges and universities from releasing student information without consent. • Colleges and universities that admit undocumented students are not automatically required to report them.

More Legal Information • State laws may prohibit state schools from treating undocumented students as residents who pay in state tuition or get state aid. • Prior to 2013, CO was one of these states. • Colorado legislators attempted on five different occasions to pass tuition equity legislation. • The last failed attempt was in 2011. • The law that was passed is called ASSET.

Colorado ASSET • SB 13 -033 • Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) • Passed in 2013. • Lets Colorado graduates who are eligible undocumented students attend public institutions at in-state rates.

Federal - The DREAM Act • The Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors Act or DREAM Act is bipartisan proposed federal law that would give undocumented high school students the opportunity to go to college and obtain permanent residency. • It has not been passed. • Students say they are “Dreamers” or “DACA” but may not know what that means. It is very confusing!

Federal- The DREAM Act • Some details (may change) • Proof of having been brought to the United States before age 16 and be younger than 35. • Proof of residence in the United States for a least five (5) consecutive years since their date of arrival. • Having graduated from an American high school, or obtained a GED. • Good moral character with no criminal record.

Federal- The DREAM Act • More details (this could change): • Undocumented youth would be able to attend college at in-state tuition. • They could also serve in the Armed Forces • At the end of a 10 year period, if they complete 2 years in the armed forces, graduate from a community college, or complete two years at a university, they would be eligible to become a permanent resident.

Federal – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) • In 2012, the Obama Administration announced DACA as an expansion of Prosecutorial Discretion. • An immediate halt to deportation for DREAMers who meet qualifications, apply and are accepted. • Opportunity to apply for legal work authorization for 2 years. • A valid Social Security Number to be used for Work Purposes ONLY • US Customs and Immigration Services will grant DACA for a period of 2 years; at the end of the 2 years, the person can apply for a renewal. Source: United We DREAM July 2012

Federal- DACA Eligibility • Under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012 and came to the US • • • before 16 th birthday; Continuously resided in the US since June 15, 2007, up to the present; Physically present in the US on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012; Currently in school, graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

DACA Application costs $465 or more depending on lawyer fees Renewal process is also difficult • http: //www. dhs. gov/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals • http: //www. uscis. gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferredaction-childhood-arrivals-daca • www. e 4 fc. org • Look at the Keeping the Dream Alive materials for more information

Colorado DACA & ASSET • DACA students MAY BE eligible for in-state tuition if they qualify for ASSET. • Undocumented students who attended high school in Colorado for FEWER than three years, regardless of the time they have been physically present in the state, are not eligible to qualify for in-state tuition classification under ASSET even if they are DACA.

College In Colorado, 1560 Broadway, Ste. 1700, Denver, CO DACA, ASSET & FAFSA • DACA and undocumented students may be required to fill out the FAFSA depending on institution needs in order to package other financial aid • MUST mark “NOT US CITIZEN or Eligible Non Citizen” • ASSET students may not be able to fill out the FAFSA because they may not have a Social Security Number. • The institution may have a process in place for them to get a financial aid package.

ASSET Forms

Financial Aid • ASSET & DACA students are not eligible for federal or state funded financial aid: • Pell Grants • Work Study (government funded) • State Merit Aid, Loans, or scholarships • Federal Merit Aid, Loans or scholarships • ASSET students can only use COF

Private Financial Aid • ASSET & DACA students may be eligible to apply for and be awarded: • Private scholarships and other private financial aid that is open to these students • Hourly-paid jobs created by individual institutions (not work-study)

CO RESIDENTS CAN APPLY FOR COF $75 per credit hour at 2 or 4 year public institutions in Colorado = approx. $1536 a year with 12 credits (full time) https: //cof. college-assist. org/ For residents of Colorado studying up to a Bachelors degree Paid directly to the institution

If you are filling out the COF form online and you have a Deferred Action Social Security Number, then you are advised to choose the “I do not have an ID” option then proceed.

Paper Application Page #2

In Summary • First generation students and undocumented students face similar challenges and bring similar strengths to the college process • First generation students who have legal status benefit from federal financial aid and most scholarships as well as federal, state and private support programs • Undocumented students may only have in-state tuition, COF and a few private scholarships • All of the students need the same kind of preparation and support to be college ready and to get through college

Recommendations • First Generation and Undocumented Students Need More Information Much Earlier in the Process • Include families (college is a family decision, not just a student decision)- immerse them in college culture earlier • Inform parents and students about college credit/college prep/pre-collegiate/IB/AP classes and programs earlier in the process • Inform parents and students about college/career requirements • Offer multiple pathways to college (not just straight to 4 year school)

Recommendations • Start conversations about FAFSA early • Start in middle school so students/parents know funding may be available long before they decide college is not affordable • College tours for students/parents in multiple languages • Presentations about getting your child to college • Opportunities for parents to ask questions about paying for college • Students can save a lot of money taking college credits during high school, doing basics at the community college and being more flexible • Students don’t know what they don’t know so help them fill in the gaps so they can be more prepared

ASCENT • Accelerating Students through Concurrent Enrollment. • State-wide concurrent enrollment program. • Students who have completed at least 12 credit hours of postsecondary course prior to completion of 12 th grade may be eligible. • They remain students in high school for one year following their 12 th grade year, and the school receives per-pupil state funding to pay their college tuition at the resident community college rate. • Students receive their high-school diplomas at the end of their ASCENT year. • http: //www. cde. state. co. us/postsecondary/ce_ascent

Recommendations • Meet with students/families to review financial aid award letters • Help student/family understand FAFSA is done every year and that student needs to maintain eligibility • Provide advising about loans- especially private loans • Inform about danger of for-profit institutions • Inform about dangers of scams • You cannot ask a student under the age of 18 for his/her legal status so you need to have a welcoming environment that allows students to share so you can help

Recommendations • Partner with tax preparation services like VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program) or AARP so families can prepare taxes earlier • Yes! Undocumented individuals can pay taxes and many of them do! It is very helpful in the FAFSA process! • Remind students to meet deadlines for institutional aid & institutional scholarships • Knowing how to craft a strong essay is very helpful! • Inform students about verification process after FAFSA • Inform students about college retention statistics on FAFSA

Advising Students • Create a safe, welcoming climate so students can “come out” to us. • It’s important to stay up-to-date on the laws. • Discourage students from relying on rumors. • Refer them to reputable immigration attorneys (Catholic Charities is a good option). • Discourage them from using a Notary Public! • Discuss this information frequently and openly because you don’t know who is undocumented. Don’t assume! • Not all undocumented students are Latino!

Resources • For best practices on serving undocumented/DACA students try: • Educators for Fair Consideration at http: //e 4 fc. org/ • Keeping the Dream Alive Conferences in Colorado • FAFSA has great online and phone support to help students/families/mentors: https: //fafsa. ed. gov/ • Hispanic Scholarship Fund has bilingual parent outreach programs and tips for working with 1 st Gen Latinos: https: //hsf. net/resources/for-students/programs/

To get more info: • Attend or host a Keeping the Dream Alive Conference • A ½ day version provides advice to educators and staff who work with undocumented students • A 1 day conference can provide help for educators and opportunities for students to learn from other students • We have flashdrives and a Dropbox with resources!

My contact information • Nancy Hernandez • 720 -988 -4326 • nhndz 4@gmail. com • College coaching, scholarship program officer, bilingual parent engagement facilitator, doctoral student, volunteer organizer for conferences about supporting undocumented students in Colorado