Undocumented Students NACADA Region 1: March 8, 2017 Mehegan Murphy - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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
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
“It was basically the only option to actually continue my education because…there was nothing to help you to continue your education financially”
Goals
that undocumented students face
Undocumented
Documented “By definition, an 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.”
International Students (hold a student visa)
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
Immigration policy as an Executive Order, that allows certain undocumented immigrants who entered the country before their 16th birthday and before June 2007 to receive a renewable two-year work permit and exception from deportation (USCIS)
authorization permit, and a two-year reprieve from deportation
Let’s look at the numbers
11.2 million Undocumented immigrants of all ages 1.1 million Undocumented children under the age of 18 65,000 Undocumented students graduate from high school every year 7,000-13,000 Undocumented students enrolled in college throughout the U.S.
What does this mean in terms of access to education?
K-12:
children are entitled to a public education, regardless of citizenship or immigration status (Plyer v Doe, 1982) Higher Education:
admission of undocumented immigrants to U.S. colleges and universities
Tuition Equity for Undocumented Students and DACA Grantees for Region 1 States
Source: United We Dream
Connecticut New York States with tuition equity law or policy. Massachusetts State where DACA grantees may be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates at some colleges and universities. Rhode Island State with tuition equity policies at some colleges and universities. Maine New Hampshire Vermont States that do not have any known tuition law
these states may be able to enroll in colleges and universities, however, they may have to pay out-of-state tuition.
Bunker Hill Community College
Student Demographics
hours DACA and Undocumented Students
Massachusetts (USCIS)
Is college for me?
high school and college level
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.”
Paying for College
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.”
“Is it worth it?”
undocumented even as they attain 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”
Academic Advising
don’t have the answers
“When undocumented students see that student affairs professionals know about and demonstrate an ethic of care regarding their unique realities, it increases the students
student affairs professionals” Gildersleeve et al. (2010) p.6
Academic Advising
“It’s kind of hard to tell someone your status, but then when I came to her, she was pretty
talking about it. And even though she didn’t know that much about it at the beginning, 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.”
Magical Advisor
“…maybe having a special, magical advisor that had all of the answers would be helpful.”
Find Partners Internal Communication External Communication Visibility
Find Partners Internal Communication External Communication Visibility
based organizations
force
The Undocumented Student Task Force
What Students Want You to Know
“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.” “You need to know we are motivated as heck.” “Just think about the circumstances that we’re in and we’re still here every day. I mean we’re still here.” “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.”