Mery C. Hernandez, EOP Outreach and Admissions Counselor Koji M. Uesugi, Interim Executive Director
Student Support & Equity Programs California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
EOP 40th Anniversary Conference, March 9, 2009
Objectives The objectives of this session are to: Discuss the various challenges that
undocumented students on our college campus face
Present the critical role that EOP can play to meet the specific needs of undocumented students
Discuss possible strategies that other campuses can develop and implement to support these students
Learning Outcome At the end of the session attendees will be
able to identify specific strategies and campus wide protocols that can be replicated and enhanced at their institutions to meet the specific needs of undocumented students.
The ContextEvery year over 65,000 undocumented students
graduate from high schools around the country and overcome immense challenges to matriculate, finance, and succeed in institutions of higher education.
“Some students will attend a four-year institution, others will find their way to community college.”
Of those who go onto four-year institutions, many are choosing CSU campuses
However, attending college comes at a high price
Assembly Bill 540 This bill would require that a person, other than a nonimmigrant alien
as defined, who has attended high school in California for 3 or more
years, who has graduated from a California high school or attained
the equivalent thereof, who has registered at or attends an
accredited institution of higher education in California no earlier that
the fall semester or quarter of the 2001-02 academic year, and who,
if he of she is an alien without lawful immigration status, has filed an
affidavit as specified, be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at
the California Community Colleges and California State University.
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm
AB 540 Eligibility RequirementsSec. 2. Section 68130.5 is added to the Educational Code
High school attendance in California for three or more years.
1.Graduation from a California High School or attainment of the equivalent thereof.
2.Registration as an entering student at, or current enrollment at, an accredited institution of higher education in California not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the 2001-02 academic year.
3.In case the of a person without lawful immigration status, the filing of an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to so.*
*Student information obtained in the implementation of this section is confidential.
Source: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset2text.htm
Money is not the only challenge…
In-state fees helps reduce the financial burden, but undocumented students are not eligible for financial aid
There are many other challenges that they must endure once they enroll in college
Student #1An incoming freshman student attends
orientation and stands in line to take a picture for an Identification card.
At the Admission’s front counter, the student is told that IDs for new students are taken care of by Orientation Services and the student is sent back to Orientation to figure out his problem.
Student #2A student eligible for graduation prepares
a Graduation Check form and brings her student ID along with the form to the Registrar’s Office.
When the student informs the staff member about not owning a SSN, the staff member responds in disbelief with comments that the student felt were disparaging remarks about individuals without SSN’s and that reflected the staff members personal views.
Student Email #1Hello my name is ____.I am currently a second year architecture student.I am AB450 and I need to find information on
internships.I'm really afraid I'm not going to be able to graduate
since I need to do a 500 hrs internship with a registered Architect.
I would like to know if you guys can help me with any kind of information.
I would really appreciate it. Thank you very much for your time.
Student Email #2 My name is ________and I'm an AB540 senior engineering student. I
will be graduating this quarter and I was wondering if you could help me answer a few questions. I was recently contacted by an engineering company who wanted to interview me for a summer internship, but since I am an undocumented student and I'm not legally allowed to work in the US they told me to go talk to the international students office to see if there were any forms I could fill out that would allow me to work in the internship. I looked up the international students office website and it didn't seem that they would be of much help, so I figured you would be a better person to ask. My main question is if there is anything I could do or fill out that would allow me to take this internship. Another questions I have is what are my possibilities after graduating of getting a job as an engineer given the fact that I am undocumented, I have heard of people getting jobs after filling out an H form but I don't know if would qualify for that. Please let me know what I could possibly do if anything.
Thank you
Barriers Then and NowMany undocumented students face many of the
same issues that underrepresented, first generation, low-income students faced over 40 years ago in higher education• Barriers to college admissions • Socioeconomic challenges• Difficulty integrating to the campus community• Lack of college support services to meet their
needs • Hostile, unsympathetic environment
Undocumented students face many of the same barriers EOP students in general face today
SSEP’s Support Student Support & Equity Programs (SSEP)
• Home for EOP, Renaissance Scholars, and all university Undeclared students
• 20 professional staff and 30 student staff provide various levels of support
SSEP’s commitment to support the unique needs of undocumented students • Formally incorporated AB 540 campus liaison
responsibilities to role of EOP Outreach and Admissions Counselor’s (Mery)
• Provides a safe and inviting environment for students
Inspiration and Opportunity EOP’s philosophy of serving underserved
populations served as a catalyst to create opportunities to support undocumented students
Inspired to understand and advocate for undocumented students’ issues and needs • Gathered scholarship resources to help support
their financial needs• Attended AB540 informational and outreach
event • Organized AB540 informational event at CPP • Led to development of student organization at
CPP
AB 540 Campus Liaison• Serve as the university's official liaison for
undocumented AB 540 students (designated and appointed by campus President)
• Meet regularly with high level administrators
• Serve on appropriate committees and in various organizations, representing the needs and interests of undocumented AB 540 students
AB 540 Campus LiaisonMeet and/or confer with various offices
throughout the campus and serve as intermediary between key departments• Office Admissions & Outreach• Visitor Center • Orientation Services• Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships• Registrars Office• Cashier’s Office• Dean of Students & Judicial Affairs Office• Office of Student Life & Cultural Centers
AB 540 Campus LiaisonOrganize and coordinate special events, workshops, and
services related to AB 540 issues both on and off-campus
Attend meetings, conferences and professional development activities to keep abreast of new developments related to this law
Advise undocumented AB 540 student organization• Student Demand for Equity in Education (SDEE) • Student Annual Fundraisers
Identify and refer to campus resources and opportunities
• Campus Volunteering• Unpaid Internships• Cal Poly Credit Union
Cal Poly Pomona’s Commitment
• University President’s Support• Meets regularly with student organization
• Student Affair’s Cabinet Support• Student Affairs Professional Development • Enrollment Services Workshops • AB 540 Liaison Support
• Dean of Students’ Office• Partnership
Campus Collaborations• Academic Colleges Collaboration
Anthropology DepartmentLiberal Studies DepartmentEthnic & Women’s Studies DepartmentPolitical Science Department
• Student Affairs CollaborationOffice of Student Life and Cultural Centers Asian & Pacific Islander Student CenterNative American Student Center Enrollment Services Collaboration
Cal Poly Pomona Navigational Resources
• AB 540 Information & Resources website http://dsa.csupomona.edu/ab540/?setactive=all
• Comprehensive Resource Guide (March 2009) http://dsa.csupomona.edu/ab540/files/Website_AB_540_Resource_Guide_3122.pdf
CPP Financial Resources Dream Scholarship (November)
President’s Council Scholarship (February)
Hilda L. Solis Scholarship (February)
SDEE Scholarship (September)
Latino Faculty Staff Student Association (May)
Universal Woman Scholarship, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc. at CPP (April)
Paula Sandoval Memorial Scholarship, Graduate Studies (April)
Positive Impacts of EffortsAdvising assistance for academic support and
personal developmentCreating awareness on campus community
Moving towards a more informed and sensitive campus
Support by campus clubs and organizations to support undocumented students
Informing students of available campus resources Campus scholarships available to undocumented
studentsInternship opportunities
Thank You!Thank You! Questions & Reference
List Discussion
Email Addresses Mery C. Hernandez –
[email protected] M. Uesugi – [email protected]
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