Counseling Immigrant Students

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Counseling Immigrant Students

• Lourdes Peña-Alanis, CSU Dominguez Hills
• Frank Colón, CSU Dominguez Hills

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Immigrant/First Generation Students

• How can we assess what we do as counselors?
• Is technology an obstacle, or are students more
  technologically advanced than we acknowledge?  
• What are some assumptions? 
• How do our beliefs systems influence our
  advising?
• How can we work as partners, the CSU and
  Counselor in assisting these students?

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Perceptions and Expectations

• Poorer academic and social preparation
• Greater financial constraints
• Lower self-esteem
• Insufficient parental support
• Diminished access to higher education
  opportunities (ESL)
• Cultural barriers
• College survival and success

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2003-2004 California graduates with UC/CSU
required courses
of Grads with UC/CSU
courses White 42 39.5 Latino 35 21.7
Asian 10 56.2 African American 7 25.1
Filipino 3 44.8 American
Indian 1 22.3 Pacific Islander
1 27.2 Multiple/No Response 1 26.9 Sourc
e California Department of Education
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Fall 2004 California High School total
percentage of students enrolled.
Source California Post secondary Education
Commission
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Advising Immigrant /First-Generation College
Student

• Communication One size does not fit all
• Students need more academic and personal guidance
• Need to communicate with Parents/Guardians
• Need to be a resource (testing, financial aid,
  AB-540)
• Create intensive counseling support groups and an
  intensive orientation program aimed directly at
  those college students who receive less parental
  support.

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Immigrant Students California Assembly Bill
AB-540

• What is AB 540?
• Who is eligible for AB 540?
• Why is AB 540 important?
• Where is AB 540 being implemented?
• What is the new legislation concerning AB 540

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What is AB 540?

• Assembly Bill 540 is a California law that
  allows undocumented students who meet specified
  requirements to pay in-state fees (tuition) for
  Californias public colleges and universities.
• These include
• California Community College
• University of California
• California State University

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Who is eligible for AB 540?

• An undocumented/immigrant student in California
  who attended a minimum of 3 years of high school
  in California and is planning on attending any
  California public college or university systems.
  
• California Community College
• University of California
• California State University

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AB 540 Requirements

• Students must also meet the requirements
  established in the bill
• The student must attend high school in California
  for three or more years.
• The student must graduate from a California high
  school with a diploma or GED equivalent.
• The student must file an affidavit with the
  college or university stating the he or she will
  file an application with the Immigration and
  Naturalization Services (INS) to obtain legal
  permanent residency as soon as he or she is
  eligible.

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Why is AB 540 important?

• Before this law, undocumented students in
  California paid out-of-state fees (tuition).
• This law gives Californias undocumented students
  affordable access to public systems of higher
  education, allowing them to instate California
  tuition and fees.
• Example CSU Dominguez Hills
• For 24 units CA Residents undergraduate tuition
  fees 2,800
• Non-residents pay 399 per unit. 24 units X 399
  9,576

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Important information to Know about AB-540

• The law requires state colleges and universities
  to keep students information confidential.
  Students immigration status will not be reported
  to the INS
• Financial Aid is NOT available for undocumented
  students.
• This law does NOT establish state residency.

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Most commonly asked questions

• I am an undocumented student that attended high
  School in Oregon for two years and completed my
  junior and senior year in California. Do I
  qualify to pay in-state tuition under this new
  law?
• What is the cost difference between in-state vs.
  out-of-state tuition?
• My parents are permanent residents of the state
  and the INS is currently processing my
  application. Do I qualify for in-state tuition
  and financial aid?
• I am a student with a valid student visa. Am I
  exempt from paying out- of-state tuition under
  this new law?
• What is the difference between a non-immigrant
  and an immigrant as defined by federal law?

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Advocacy Strategies

• Have a presentation for students and parents at
  your high school or agency that deals with
  immigration status as it relates to higher
  education.
• Have scholarship information available in your
  college/career center for students who are
  undocumented.
• Have the California Nonresident Tuition Exemption
  Request Form available when passing out CSU, CC,
  and UC applications.

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Strategies for Success

• Provide access to support groups, other
  organizations and activities
• Encourage campus involvement
• Assess students needs
• Ensure participation in appropriate program
  activities
• Provide career, personal, and academic counseling
• Expose students to cultural programs
• Initiate and explain tutorial services
• Provide assistance with financial aid, in home
  language if available
• Encourage mentorship programs (peers, or
  professionals)
• Provide a welcoming and friendly environment

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Questions Answers

• Lourdes Peña-Alanis
• Lalanis_at_csudh.edu
• [phone]
• Frank Colón
• fcolon_at_csudh.edu
• [phone]

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Thank You
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New Legislation

• Dream Act S.1545 (O. Hatch, R-UT and R. Durbin
  D-IL)
• Student Adjustment Act. HR 1684 (Cannon, R-UT)

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New Legislation S 1545 The Dream 2003

• Restore State Option to Provide In-State Tuition
  Benefit
• DREAM 2003 would repeal section 505 of the
  Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
  Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), which
  discourages states from providing in-state
  tuition or other higher education benefits
  without regard to immigration status.
•     

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New Legislation S 1545 The Dream 2003 cont.
Who Qualifies for Legal Residency Under DREAM
2003, most students of good moral character who
came to the U.S. before they were sixteen years
old and at least five years before the date of
the bill's enactment would qualify for
conditional permanent resident status upon
acceptance to college, graduation from high
school, or being awarded a general equivalency
diploma (GED).
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The Dream 2003 (contd)

• Conditional Permanent Resident Status
• Qualifying students would be granted conditional
  permanent resident status, awarded for a limited
  period of time-6 years. Students with
  conditional permanent resident status would be
  able to work, drive, go to school, and otherwise
  participate normally in day-to-day activities on
  the same terms as other Americans, except that
  they would not be able to travel abroad for
  lengthy periods. Time spent by young people in
  conditional permanent resident status would count
  towards the residency requirements for
  naturalization to U.S. citizenship.

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The Dream 2003 (contd)

• Requirements to Lift the Condition and Obtain
  Regular Lawful Permanent Resident Status
• At the end of the conditional period, regular
  lawful permanent resident status would be granted
  if, during the conditional period, the immigrant
  had maintained good moral character, avoided
  lengthy trips abroad, and met at least one of the
  following three criteria
• 1. Graduated from a 2-year college or a
  vocational college that meets certain criteria,
  or studied for at least 2 years towards a
  bachelor's or a higher degree or
• 2. Served in the U.S. armed forces for at least
  2 years or
• 3. Performed at least 910 hours of volunteer
  community service.

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New Legislation H.R. 1684 Student Adjustment
Act

• Immigration Relief for Long-term Resident
  Students SAA will permit students enrolled in
  7th grade or above at the time of enactment who
  have good moral conduct and have lived in the
  U.S. for five years or more the opportunity to
  obtain immigration relief, known as cancellation
  of removal, so that they can go to college and
  eventually become U.S. citizens.
• Higher Education Benefits for Student Adjustment
  Act Applicants SAA will ensure that students who
  are applying for immigration relief under SAA may
  obtain Pell grants and student loans in the same
  basis as other students while their application
  for adjustment of immigration status is being
  processed.

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Student Adjustment Act (contd)

• Restoration of State Right to Determine Residency
  for Higher Education Benefits SAA repeals
  Section 505 of the Illegal Immigration Reform
  and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996
  (IIRIRA). Repeal of section 505 would restore to
  the state the right to determine their own
  residency regulations.