CaliforniaResources for

Undocumented Students

Dreamin’

Today’s Topics: • Who are dreamers? What are the challenges?

• Support for dreamers at DVC

• Activity - Undocuknowledge

• Q&A

Who are dreamers?Undocumented immigrants who were

brought to the United States as children

What are the challenges?• Fear of deportation and lack of trust

• Conflicting information in the media

• Confusion about rights and resources

• No pathway to citizenship

• No easy way to identify students to connect

with campus resources; we rely mostly on

self-identification or direct referrals from

counselors and staff

Support for dreamers at DVC

DVC Dreamers Alliance• Monthly meetings with staff, faculty,

administrators, and students

• Committed to providing dreamers a safe

and welcoming experience

• Plan events and trainings for students and

community

• Collaborate with on and off campus

partners

www.dvc.edu/dreamers

www.dvc.edu/dreamers

Updates and campus efforts:

• Contra Costa Community College District Governing Board voted to reaffirm support of undocumented students

• The district is committed to protecting all students regardless of immigration status; no student information will be released without the student’s permission, a judicial warrant, subpoena, or court order

Safety and Confidentiality

Updates and campus efforts: Activities and Events

• UndocuAlly Trainings - ongoing• DACA renewal workshops• Solidarity rallies on campus • Proposal for full-time coordinator dedicated for dreamers• Planning orientation/open house for incoming dreamers (Fall 2018)

7th Annual Dreamers ConferenceSaturday, October 21, 2017 at Diablo Valley College

• Immigrant Rights and Advocacy

• DACA renewals

• How to be an Ally

• Parent workshop in Spanish

• Empowerment and Leadership for dreamers

• Organizing 101

• Financial Aid for dreamers

• Benefits of community college for dreamers

• Budgeting for college

• Owning your voice through writing

8th Annual Dreamers Conference• date and time to be determined/announced

• will be hosted by Los Medanos College (Pittsburg)

• need help of counselors to get the word out to students

UndocuknowledgeFacts vs. “Alternative Facts”

Undocumented students can attend

college only if Deferred Action for

Childhood Arrivals (DACA) continues

Fact or “Alternative Fact”

Students do not need DACA to pursue high

education. There are no laws that prevent

undocumented students from attending college.

DACA was an immigration policy that allowed dreamers

to apply for a temporary work permit and provided

temporary protection from deportation.

Even if DACA ends, students can still go to college.

Undocumented students are

considered ‘non-residents’

for tuition purposes even if

they live in California

Fact or “Alternative Fact”

Type of College CA- Resident* NON- Resident

CA Community Colleges $46 per unit $283 per unit

Tuition Fees and

California Residency

*To be considered a California Resident, you must have:

(1) lived in California for at least a year and a day, AND

(2) have citizenship or permanent residency in the United States

Assembly Bill (AB) 540Non-resident tuition exemption

Students who meet ALL of the following criteria are exempted

from paying non-resident tuition fees:

Attended California high school for at least 3 years

- can use mix of elementary and secondary school

Earned a California high school diploma or equivalent

Submit the CA Non-resident Tuition Exemption Request form

Submit a copy of high school transcripts to Admissions

College CA- Resident AB540 NON- Resident

CC $46 per unit $46 per unit $283 per unit

Assembly Bill (AB) 540Non-resident tuition exemption

Senate Bill (SB) 68Expansion of AB540

Effective beginning January 1, 2018

Attended California high school for at least 3 years

- can use mix of elementary and secondary school

- can use years in adult school

- can use years in community college

Earned a California high school diploma or equivalent

- can use AA degree

- can use fulfillment of transfer requirements

Submit the CA Non-resident Tuition Exemption Request form

Submit a copy of high school transcripts to Admissions

DACA allow

undocumented students

to apply for financial aid.

Fact or “Alternative Fact”

California Dream Act (CADA)

The California Dream Act allow

AB540 (and SB68) eligible undocumented

students to apply for state funded financial aid.

DACA is a completely separate program for temporary

work permit and protection from deportation.

Even if DACA ends, students can still receive financial aid

Board of Governor’s

Fee Waiver Waives $46 per unit fee at Community Colleges

Cal Grant (A/B/C) Waives tuition fees at UC/CSU

AND/OR educational stipend

Full-time Student

Success Grant

up to $1000 per year for educational expenses

(must be full time student and Cal Grant eligible)

College Completion

Grant

up to $1500 per year for educational expenses

(must be on track to complete 30 units per year

and Cal Grant eligible)

Chafee Grantup to $5000 per year for educational expenses

(must be a current or former foster youth)

State Funded Programs

AB540 eligible students may also qualify for the EOPS Program

The California Dream Act

provide students a potential

pathway to citizenship

Fact or “Alternative Fact”

The California

Dream Act is NOT:

• NOT a pathway to citizenship

• NOT an immigration relief program

Note: Conversations about possible pathways to citizenship usually include education requirement

Undocumented students have

access to some, but not all, types

of financial aid programs

Fact or “Alternative Fact”

The California Dream Act

is NOT an application for

federal financial aid

California Financial Aid Programs

CA BOG Fee Waiver

Cal Grant

CA Full Time Student Success Grant

CA Completion Grant

CA Chafee Grant (foster youth)

FEDERAL financial aid programs are only available for US Citizens or eligible non-citizens

(green card holders, refugees, asylums, etc.) through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)

Federal Financial Aid Programs

Federal Pell Grant

Federal SEOG Grant

Federal Work Study

Federal Student Loans

When in doubt, advise students

to complete both the FAFSA

and the California Dream Act.

Fact or “Alternative Fact”

Always advise potential undocumented students to apply

for the California Dream Act online www.caldreamact.org

(Avoid submitting the FAFSA! )

The application must be renewed every year,

ideally between October 1- March 2nd

Questions?

Phoebe Keesey

Financial Aid Program Coordinator

Diablo Valley College

pkeesey@dvc.edu

Lizette Ponthier

Financial Aid Supervisor

Diablo Valley College

lponthier@dvc.edu