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
• Define undocumented
• List some of the barriers and challenges
that undocumented students face
• Use your magic wand on your campus
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.”
-National Immigrant Law Center
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 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)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
• $465 to apply
• Provides individuals with a SSN, a work
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.
-Educators For Fair Consideration
What does
this mean in
terms of
access to
education?
K-12:
• U.S. Supreme Court ruled that all
children are entitled to a public
education, regardless of citizenship or
immigration status (Plyer v Doe, 1982)
Higher 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
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
or policy. Undocumented or DACA grantees in
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
• 14,000 students enrolled each semester
• 60% female
• 64% are students of color
• Average age: 27 years old
• 3 out of 5 are on financial aid
• 3 out of 4 work; 1 out of 3 work 30 or more hours
DACA and Undocumented Students
• How many?
• About 12,000 DACA residents in Massachusetts (USCIS)
Is college for
me?
• 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
• Psychological Impacts
• 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.”
Paying for
College
• Not eligible for federal financial aid
• Most undocumented students pay out of
• In-state vs out-of-state at BHCC
• In-state: $528 per 3 credit class
• Out-of-state: $1,146 per 3 credit class
• 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.”
“Is it worth it?”
• Major and career choices
• DACA
• What happens after graduation?
• Undocumented students will still be
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
• Creating an inclusive environment
• Educating yourself and recognizing when you
don’t have the answers
• Being visible
• Know your curriculum
• Language
“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
Academic
Advising
“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
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
• Campus Allies
• Community Based Organizations
• Coalition of Colleges
• Educating the campus community
• Sharing student voices
• Website
• High school partnerships and community
based organizations
• Creation of a task
force
• Website
• #UndocuAlly stickers
• Bulletin board
• Resource pages
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.”