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

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

Definitions

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

Federal, State and Local Policy

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

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)

Challenges and Barriers

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

pocket

• 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”

The Role of Advising

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.”

Demonstrating an Ethic of Care

Find Partners Internal

Communication

External

Communication Visibility

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

The

Undocumented

Student Task

Force

• Started Fall 2016

• Purpose and goals

• Membership

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.”

What will YOU do with your

magic wand?