Welcome

1. Welcome An initiative of the Minnesota Minority Education Partnership, Inc. www.mncollegeaccess.org

2. Minnesota College Access Network • Making college access possible for ALL Minnesotan students through a strong network of advocates. • Advocacy • Trainings • Technical Assistance • Network Building • Research www.mncollegeaccess.org

3. Through NAVIGATE… …young adults help their community and themselves by working to access education, jobs and legal status. • Summer Fellowships • Monthly Networking Meetings • Presentations for students, their families, and educators • Materials‏ www.mncollegeaccess.org

4. College Access for ALL in Minnesota Undocumented Students Being a Resource, Advocate and College Connector Agenda www.mncollegeaccess.org

5. College Access is an Economic Reality Source:Minnesota Private College Council, “Economic Diversity: Why Enrollment of Lower-Income Students Matters,” February 2008. www.mncollegeaccess.org

6. Minnesota High School Graduates 2003-2013 Source:Minnesota Private College Council, “Economic Diversity: Why Enrollment of Lower-Income Students www.mncollegeaccess.org

7. Born outside of the United States Currently Is not a citizen of the United States Does not have permanent residency, political asylum or refugee status No green card, A number or Social Security number For the purpose of this presentation, to be “documented” means to qualify for federal and state financial aid… to have a MN state ID (or qualify to apply) and a valid social security number. “My home was in Mexico, but my family wanted the best for me. They knew I would have a chance at a better life in the U.S.” -NAVIGATE Fellow. Undocumented Students www.mncollegeaccess.org

8. Numbers… • Pew Hispanic Research estimates the number of undocumented immigrants in Minnesota to be between 55,000 and 85,000. • Only between 5 and 10 percent of undocumented high school graduates go to college. • No federal or state law prohibits undocumented students from attending public colleges or universities. They are not eligible for most forms of financial aid. The Advocates for Human Rights, Fact Sheet: Undocumented Students (Minnesota). 2008 Gonzales, Roberto G. Wasted Talent and Broken Dreams: The Lost Potential of Undocumented Students. Immigration Policy In Focus, Vol.5 Issue 13, October 2007. [Badger, Ellen. Myths and Realities for Undocumented Students Attending U.S. Colleges and Universities, Journal of College Admissions. Winter 2002. www.mncollegeaccess.org

9. Mixed Status Families NY Times Video: A Family Divided by Two Words • One or both parents are undocumented immigrants • Children may or may not be US born citizens • Often times status is not the same across siblings • Extended Family “Over 3 million, U.S. born children are living in households headed by undocumented immigrants.” College is Possible, A Guide for Undocumented Students. Department of Postsecondary Education. Chicago Public Schools. August 2006. www.mncollegeaccess.org

10. What if the student is a US citizen and the Parent(s) are not? • The student is eligible for financial aid. • The FAFSA requires parents to submit SSN and tax information. A undocumented parents should use 000-00-0000 as their social security number on the FAFSA form. • A fake or stolen SSN or Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) will not be recognized and will result in rejection of the FAFSA. • The FAFSA is not shared with any other government agency. www.mncollegeaccess.org

11. Barriers to Reaching Potential • Lack of Information and Misinformation • Low Expectations by Adults at School • Lack of Knowledgeable “College Connectors” • Invisibility • Fear • Cultural Issues • Money Photo courtesy of Quito Ziegler/MN Immigrant Freedom Network www.mncollegeaccess.org

12. Student Stories Lessons on how to be a Resource, Advocate and College Connector www.mncollegeaccess.org

13. Aspirations Minnesota Department of Education and Minnesota Department of Health 2007 www.mncollegeaccess.org

14. What Can I Do? Be a RESOURCE www.mncollegeaccess.org

15. Understand that students may be scared or nervous. If possible, wait for them to self-disclose. • Do not talk about it in public with a student, even if the student is among friends. • Get updated training regularly. • Know what resources are available in the community, online and at colleges. • Post resources in your office and speak openly about all options in class guidance, group settings and individual sessions. • Offer specific scholarships to students at beginning of year and make sure that financial aid nights you sponsor are relevant. Deborah Málaga, School Counselor, Harding HS www.mncollegeaccess.org

16. Resources for You • Minnesota College Access Network • www.mncollegeaccess.org • Navigate • www.navigatemn.org • Minnesota Freedom Network • http://immigrantfreedomnetwork.wordpress.com/ • Minnesota Immigrant Law Center • http://www.immigrantlawcentermn.org/ • Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights • www.mnadvocates.org/For_Educators.html • www.mnadvocates.org/Trainings3.html • Minnesota Office of Higher Education Get Ready • www.getreadyforcollege.org/gpg.cfm?pageID=1586 • Pathways to College Network • www.pathwaystocollege.net/ • FinAid • www.finaid.org/otheraid/undocumented.phtml www.mncollegeaccess.org

17. What Can I Do? Be an ADVOCATE www.mncollegeaccess.org

18. Know your students’ rights. • Set high expectations EARLY. • Overtly state your support and interest to learn more. Post information in your office. • Overtly state that school and educators at all levels do not report immigration status to authorities, when appropriate. • Network actively with college counselors and scholarship reps about this issue. • Make sure counselors on your team and other support staff are aware and try to work with a common approach • Support the Dream Act (federal) and Flat Rate Tuition (state) Deborah Málaga, School Counselor, Harding HS www.mncollegeaccess.org

19. Support the DREAM ACT Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors • Proposed federal legislation that would provide a path to citizenship to undocumented students with good moral character. • Students will be provided with a temporary citizenship for 6 years. • During that time, students must either earn at least a two year degree or serve in the military. The DREAM ACT Portal http://dreamact.info www.mncollegeaccess.org

20. 10 states have passed laws that permit undocumented students to pay in-state tuition rates under certain circumstances -Texas, California, New York, Utah, Illinois, Washington, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas. (MN Freedom Immigrant Network) Some public colleges and universities in Minnesota offer in-state tuition to ALL of their students, regardless of citizenship or state of residence. Flat Rate Tuition www.mncollegeaccess.org

21. Flat Rate Tuition Four Year Colleges: • Bemidji State University • Minnesota State University Moorhead • University of Minnesota, Crookston • University of Minnesota, Morris • Southwest Minnesota State University: Marshall Note: Private colleges usually charge all students the same tuition rate. These colleges also may be able to offer more aid for qualified students from private funds. www.mncollegeaccess.org

22. Greater MN 2 Year Colleges Metro Area 2 Year Colleges • Alexandria Technical College: Alexandria • Central Lakes College: Brainerd and Staples • Minnesota State Community and Technical College: Fergus Falls, Moorhead, Wadena and Detroit Lakes • Minnesota West College: Jackson, Granite Falls, Worthington, Pipestone, Canby • Northland College: Thief River Falls and East Grand Forks • Northwest Technical College: Bemidji • Ridgewater College: Willmar and Hutchinson • Riverland College: Austin and Albert Lea • Rochester Community and Technical College: Rochester • St. Cloud Technical College: St. Cloud • South Central College: Mankato and Faribault • Anoka-Ramsey Community College: Cambridge and Coon Rapids • Anoka Technical College: Anoka • Century College: White Bear Lake • Hennepin Technical College: Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie • Inver Hills Community College • Minneapolis Community & Technical College • Normandale Community College • North Hennepin Community College: Brooklyn Park • Saint Paul College Note: Statistically, 5 years after entering community college, only 1 in 5 students have accomplished an associate’s degree. (Project on Student Debt). www.mncollegeaccess.org

23. What Can I Do? Be a COLLEGE CONNECTOR First generation students need knowledgeable adults, who understand the college process to support and guide them. COLLEGE CONNECTORS are not a replacement for parents and families in the college process. www.mncollegeaccess.org

24. Help Students Prepare EARLY • Set HIGH expectations and create a college going culture at your school. • Schedule students for college preparatory coursework. • Explain Grade Point Averages and their importance to students and their parents. • Remember they may not be familiar with the American grading system • Encourage students to take advantage of post-secondary options such as PSEO, College in the Schools (CIS), Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB). • Create Early Awareness Activities for elementary and middle school age children. • Explain the importance of extra-curricular activities to students and parents. • Encourage families to enroll their students in activities, summer camps and other academic and social enrichment programs (see MMEP Academic Enrichment Guide) www.mncollegeaccess.org

25. Connecting Students to College • Create a binder or guide to organize specific scholarships that are open to ALL students. Make sure your students are aware of this resource. • Contact scholarship funders, donors and sponsors to inquire and advocate for undocumented students (annually). Focus on local and/or based at your school site. (See MIFN list in your folder.) • Communicate regularly with admissions and financial aid representatives on behalf of specific students. • Ask colleges to send Admission representatives that are bilingual when they visit your school. • Be EXPLICIT about what forms require a SSN and when it is optional. • For example: school lunch forms, PSEO applications, ACT registration, college applications, etc. • Students and families need to know it may be listed, but not required. www.mncollegeaccess.org

26. More suggestions… • Offer to be a reference for scholarship and admission applications. • Arrange campus visits (including the parents) and provide transportation. • Access quality materials that are bilingual and address Latino families’ culture and concerns specifically. • Remember- just translating the words may not be enough. • Hold financial aid and scholarship information nights early in the year. • Provide materials and presenters that are bilingual • Consider holding these events outside of the school building • Make sure the materials are relevant to both documented and undocumented family members www.mncollegeaccess.org

27. Questions? www.mncollegeaccess.org

28. Amanda Ziebell-Finley aziebell-finley@mmep.org 651-645-7400 ext. 204 www.mncollegeaccess.org www.mmep.org Denisse Linares DenisseLinaresBarron@gmail.com www.navigatemn.org Thank You! www.mncollegeaccess.org

29. Immigration Vocabulary US citizen: A person born in the U.S., a U.S. territory or a person who naturalized. Also, a person born abroad from at least one U.S. citizen parent. May not be deported and may petition to immigrate family members, may vote. Legal permanent resident (LPR) or green card holder: May live permanently in the U.S. LPRs may work, drive, apply for the FAFSA, and serve in the military, but cannot vote. A LPR may be deported for certain criminal convictions and may become a U.S. citizen through naturalization. Immigrant: A non-citizen who intends to live in the U.S. Non-immigrant: A non-citizen who is granted a temporary visa for a specific limited period of time, and (student, tourist, diplomat) Migrant: Any person who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born. Undocumented: A non-citizen who entered the U.S. without legal immigration status (a visa) or who stayed after the period they were authorized to be here. Undocumented persons do not have employment authorization and may be deported if discovered by CIS. Not eligible for federal and state financial aid, but often eligible for private scholarships. www.mncollegeaccess.org

30. Vocabulary Continued Visa: A document or stamp placed in a person’s passport issued by a U.S. consulate to a non-citizen allowing that person to enter the U.S. Visas are either non- Immigrant or immigrant. Refugee: Under U.S. law, a refugee is a person who has fled his or her country of origin because of past persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based upon race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or a membership in a particular social group. Political Asylum or Asylee: Individuals who meet the definition of refugee and who are already in the U.S or who are seeking entry may qualify regardless of country of origin and current immigration status –no quotas. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS):The government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States of America. USCIS "adjudicate" (decide upon) the petitions and applications of potential immigrants. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement is a component of the Department of Homeland Security Our mission is to protect national security by enforcing our nation's customs and immigration laws. www.mncollegeaccess.org