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 –

mchernandez@csupomona.eduKoji M. Uesugi – kmuesugi@csupomona.edu