University of California Supporting Undocumented Students

1. University of California Supporting Undocumented Students

2. What is Assembly Bill 540? • Assembly Bill 540: • On October 12, 2001, Governor Gray Davis signed into law Assembly Bill 540 (Assemblyman MarcoFirebaugh) adding a new section, 68130.5, to the California EducationCode. • Assembly Bill 540 allows qualified students to payin‐state tuition at California’s institutions of higher education. For example, based in 2013‐2014, the average in‐state annual tuition for a fulltimestudent at the University of California was $13,200 compared to out‐state tuition $36,078for a non‐resident student. • Does not grant permanent residence or is a pathway to citizenship. • To qualify as an AB 540 student, undocumented students must: • Have attended a California high school for 3 years or more full academic years(between grades 9 through 12. They do not need to be consecutive years). • Have or will graduate from a California high school or have attained a G.E.D.; orreceived a passing mark on the California High School Proficiency Exam (CHSPE). • Register or be currently enrolled at an accredited institution of public highereducation in California. • File or plan to file an affidavit as required by individual institutions, stating thathe/she will apply for legal residency as soon as possible. • Not hold a valid non‐immigrant visa (F, J, H, L, A, E, etc.).Students that do not qualify for AB 540 can still attend a California institution of highereducation as long as they meet the admissions criteria and are accepted by theuniversity, but they must pay out‐state tuition.

3. California Dream Act AB 130: Assembly Bill 130 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on July 25, 2011, granting undocumented AB 540 students access to an estimated $88 million in private financial aid in the form of scholarships and grants. AB 130 gives colleges and universities the discretion to award institutional scholarships to undocumented students who qualify for Assembly Bill 540. This includes scholarships funded through private donors, alumni contributions and individual departmental efforts. This bill went into effect as law on January 1, 2012. AB 131: Assembly Bill 130 was signed into law by Governor Jerry Brown on October 8, 2011. Undocumented AB 540 students receive state-based financial aid such as Cal Grants, State University Grants and Board of Governor’s Fee Waivers. Cal Grants represent the major source of aid that students would gain access to. A Cal Grant is a form of aid that represents funds available to students that meet GPA, parent income, and High School graduation requirements. This bill went into effect as law on January 1, 2013. The California Dream Act is a combination of two bills, Assembly Bill (AB) 130 and AB 131. Together, these bills allow undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet the AB 540 provisions to be treated the same as resident students. Combined these Assembly Bills constitute what is called the California Dream Act and they allow undocumented AB 540 students to apply for and receive private scholarships funded through public universities, state-administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers and state-sponsored Cal Grants. Undocumented AB 540 students apply for this aid by completing the California Dream Act Application, via the California Student Aid Commission, www.csac.ca.gov.

4. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)(Must submit the California Dream Act Application, Not FAFSA) • What Is Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) • On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. • Deferred Action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period. Deferred Action does not provide lawful status. • DACA students may: • Work on-campus, or off-campus • Through Advanced Parole may study abroad or leave the country for educational/research purposes • May NOW use assigned Social Security number on the college application. • Students may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you: • Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; • Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday; • Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;   • Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; • Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012; • Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and • Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

5. UC President’s Initiative Supporting Undocumented Students $5 million has been allocated to enhance services and financial aid programs designed to support undocumented students at the University of California. $2.75 million has been allocated to fund loan and work-study programs for undocumented undergraduate students who applied for financial aid under the California Dream Act.

6. Services Available for Undocumented Students at UC Campuses University of California Provides Guidance and Support to All Undocumented Students: • Academic counseling, legal support, financial aid resources, and extensive campus referral network • Curriculum and training for students, faculty, and staff on institutional support for Undocumented students • Programs and organizations, and internships specifically for Undocumented students • Providing targeted counseling and psychological services; or career and graduate school advising • Emergency funds and resources • Centralized Undocumented Student Center • Institutional grants or scholarships

7. Applying to the University of California • When completing the UC Application: • Under the question of Country of Citizenship, Undocumented students should scroll down and indicate “No Selection” • After indicating “No Selection” the student will be able to skip the Social Security section and continue with the application • DACA recipients must NOW use their assigned Social Security # • Or, Tax Payer Identification Number (ITIN)

8. After Accepting Your Admission After submitting your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR): A student’s classification as a resident or nonresident is determined by the Residence Deputy, located in the Registrar’s Office or Office of Admissions and Records on each of the University of California campuses. Classifications are based on evidence presented in a student’s Statement of Legal Residence (SLR) and supporting evidence a campus deems necessary for determination.

9. California Non-Residential Tuition Exemption Request To be submitted after the student has accepted their admission via Statement of Intent to Register (SIR); • The affidavit is required by the UC campus the student will be attending • The affidavit states that the student will adjust their status, as soon as they are eligible to do so • Students are not required to submit a new affidavit when there is continuous enrollment • The information on the affidavit is kept confidential, as required by law. Immigration has no access to student information

10. Thank You For listing of campus contacts and resources by UC Campus, please refer to: http://undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu/