Empowering Undocumented Students: Creating Inclusive Connections at UW Seattle

1. Creating Connections for Undocumented Students at the University of Washington-Seattle Magdalena Fonseca, M.Ed., University of Washington Noe Valdovinos, M.Ed., University of Washington Jaime Soto, M.Ed., University of Washington

2. Overview • Understanding the Undocumented Student Identity • U.S. Statistics • Washington State Landscape • Undocumnted Student Recruitment: UW • WASFA & HB 1079 • Leadership Without Borders Center • TheDream.US Scholarship • Important Resources

3. Understanding the Undocu Stuent Identity • Peer Mentoring • Allies • Scholarships • Personal Expenses • Mental Health Counseling • Feeling Depressed • Afraid of failing in college • Career Counseling • Leadership Development • Anundocumented immigrant lacks lawful status granted by federalauthorities • Overstayed a visa and lost status • Entered the U.S. without inspection WHAT DOES UNDOCUMENTED MEAN? • Safe Space / Community • Support with specific majors/fields of study • Access to reputable legal information • Academic Counseling • Advocacy • Housing • DACA • Problems at home • Graduate School 26% API Undocumented Folks Mixed status families

4. Statistics in the United States • 11.3 million undocumented individuals in the U.S. (Pew Hispanic Center, 2014). • Almost 1.2 million under 18 years old and 4.4 million under the age of 30 (Pew Hispanic Center, 2014). • 682, 750 DACA Recipients as of January 2018, it is estimated that 1.326 million were eligible to apply in 2017. Program participation rate: 52% (Migration Policy Institute, 2018) • In 2008, up to 65,000 undocumented students graduated from high schools each year in the U.S. (Gonzales, 2008). • Estimation is that only 5-10% of these students pursue post-secondary education (only 1% graduate from college)

5. Washington State Landscape • Tuition Equity Law 2003: HB1079 • Washington State Financial Aid 2014: SB 6523 • 10thState with largest population of Undocumented immigrants (2%) • 250,000 undocumented individuals reside in Washington State (American immigration Council, 2014) • 34,000-42,500, the estimated number of undocumented individuals under the age of 18 living in Washington state (Nerini, 2008) • University of Washington—public research university located in Seattle, Washington. It is the flagship of the six public universities in Washington. Seattle, Tacoma, Bothell • 46,686 students (Fall 2017) • 456 undocumented students on all three campuses • 180 self-identified to Leadership Without Borders • Mexico, Korea, China, Philippines, Honduras, El Salvador, Poland, Canada, Ethiopia

6. Undocumented Student Recruitment • Website • College Access Designated Team Member • Partnerships on Campus

7. Websitewashington.edu/admissions/undocumented/

8. College Access Designated Team Member - UW Admissions • We are proud to be a university that wholeheartedly welcomes and supports undocumented students of all ethnicities and nationalities. • I am undocumented, can I apply to the UW? YES! You can apply regardless of your immigration status. • There is no federal or state law that prohibits undocumented students admissions to public or private universities in Washington state. • If an undocumented student is living in WA state or USA, they will fill out the domestic application, not the international application for UW.

9. UW Admissions - Key Items

10. WASFA & HB 1079 • These are unique to WA State: • Washington Application For State Financial Aid (WASFA) • House Bill 1079 • As of now won’t be affected

11. Partnerships on Campus • Office of the Registrar • Office of Student Financial Aid • Student Experience: Leadership Without Borders Center

12. Leadership Without Borders—undocumented student program est. 2014 Working with undocumented students since 2001 180 self-identified UW Students (456 receive WASFA) 800 square ft. space, open: 9am to 6pm M-F Sofas, workspace, TV, artwork, mini-fridge, resource center, peer staff 1 FTE, 2 student employees, 4 interns

13. The Undocu Center Model Empowerment: Create a space for community building and focused on undocumented students’ leadership development. Equity: Develop a wide support network of allies and resources to increase equity for undocumented students. EMPOWERMENT EQUITY Education: Lead an Undocu Ally education/training campaign throughout our campus and community Empathy: Promote collaboration, inclusion, and equity across campus and the at-large community through empathy. EMPATHY EDUCATION

14. The Undocu Center Model • Empowerment: Are we creating a safe and empowering campus climate with and for undocumented students? • Equity: Are we increasing access and equity for all undocumented students? • Education: Are we raising awareness and preparing professionals and institutions to better serve undocumented students? • Empathy: Are we promoting inclusion and empathy for undocumented students and other underserved student populations? EMPOWERMENT EQUITY EMPATHY EDUCATION

15. TheDREAM.US Scholarship • You are eligible to apply if you are attending a WA CC and plan to transfer to UW with an AA completed • Have a 3.0 GPA of above • Have not previously attended a 4-year institution • Intend to enroll full-time at UW • Have DACA or TPS or certify that you meet immigration criteria set forth: 1). Came to the US. Before reaching our 16th Birthday and demonstrate significant unmet financial need.

16. Resources • Stay informed, sign up for newsletters Educators for Fair Consideration

17. Thank you! • Questions or Actions?