Higher Education Opportunities for Immigrant Students Immigrant Student Issues Committee New Mexico State University, Doña Ana Community College, Las Cruces Public Schools

Immigrant Student Issues Committee The Immigrant Student Issues Committee at NMSU/DACC was created in order to answer questions among faculty, staff and community members about services, policies and opportunities applicable to students that are: A) Undergraduate International Students, with student visas B) Undocumented Students C) U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a U.S. high school & have limited English Proficiency. D) U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a foreign high school

This presentation includes information on: Admissions Criteria Opportunities for scholarships/financial aid Other opportunities at NMSU Las Cruces campus and Doña Ana Community College

For Students Who Are: A) Undergraduate International Students, with student visas B) Undocumented Students C) U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a U.S. high school & have limited English proficiency. D) U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a foreign high school.

Students in ALL categories above are able to study at public community colleges or universities in the state of New Mexico as long as they: 1) Meet the academic entrance requirements 2) Are able to pay tuition, fees, books and living expenses or 3) Are able to obtain these resources through various combinations of scholarships, financial aid and /or employment. (Not all students in these categories are able to receive federal financial aid, nor are they all able to be employed on campus.)

Where does an undergraduate international student start??? If a student has a student visa OR is the dependent of a person with a student visa, the student starts the admissions process at the : Admissions Office in the Educational Services Building, NMSU. Ph # Undergraduate and graduate students are required to have a TOEFL English score (unless they have a U.S. High school diploma and attended that high school for at least one year, or a diploma from an English-speaking country and attended that high school for at least one year.)

International Students who graduate from a foreign high school, should have their transcript translated when it is in a language other than English. Translations of transcripts from Spanish-speaking countries can also be obtained from: –Jeff Longwell - Department of Languages & Linguistics –Marcela Salmon - College of Engineering If you cannot contact them call International Programs at : There is a charge to have transcript translated.

International Student Services Contact Information Mary Jaspers Garcia Annex Rm. 238 MSC 3567 New Mexico State University

B) Where does an undocumented student start??? If a student is undocumented, to study at NMSU Las Cruces they begin the process at Chicano Programs. When filling out the NMSU Application for Admission form, individuals without official immigration status should check “other” when answering the section on citizenship/residency status.

Chicano Programs Chicano Programs, Rm. 138 Garcia Annex (south of Corbett Center) Ph # and ask for an appointment with Ms. Mari Tellez or Dr. Spencer

If an Undocumented student wants to study at the Doña Ana Community College (DACC), begin the process with: Becky Orduñez DACC Admissions, Room 116 DACC Main Building

Undocumented Students are eligible for the major state-funded, and some private incoming freshman Scholarships, if the individual: -Resided in New Mexico for at least one year, and graduated from a NM GED program OR attended for at least one year and graduated from a New Mexico public high school AND -If the individual entered a college or university the first regular semester after high school graduation or GED completion. What types of financial support are available to undocumented students?

These Scholarships include: Non-Competitive State Funded Opportunity Lottery Success Regents Crimson Academic

Scholarships (continued) Competitive/Honors Crimson Honors New Mexico Scholars NMSU Leadership President’s Associates Scholarship

For additional information on Scholarships available for students contact: Michelle Cisneros Scholarship Coordinator Office of Financial Aid DACC Room 115 (Main building) General Scholarship Application (available online January 3 - March 1) Marlene Melendez Office of Financial Aid NMSU Main Campus Educational Services Building

Undocumented students are NOT eligible to:  Receive State-funded Work Study or Federal Financial Aid.  Work on campus, either through Work Study or Student Employment NOTE: In order to be hired, an I-9 document (with a legitimate Social Security Number, US Birth Certificate or other official US document named on the I-9 form that establishes US employment eligibility) must be filed with the NMSU/DACC Human Resources offices.

There is no citizenship or official residency requirement for students to live in campus housing or to use the campus dining services. They simply must have the resources to pay for the services, whether it be through scholarship funding or their own means. Student Services for undocumented students

There is no citizenship or official residency requirement for students to access general academic and student services available to NMSU/DACC students (based on their full-time or part-time status). Veteran’s services, Study Abroad, National Exchange programs, and Athletics travel programs are all problematic without official U.S. documentation Continued..

C) Where do U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a U.S. high school start? Doña Ana Community CollegeNMSU DACC Admissions, Rm. 116 Las Cruces Campus DACC Main Building Admissions Suite A Educational Services Bldg

These students may be new to the US and have low English proficiency making them eligible for the CITE Program at NMSU or ESL (CCDL) classes at Doña Ana Community College (DACC).

D) Where do U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a foreign high school start? Doña Ana Community College (DACC) DACC Admissions, Rm. 116 DACC Main Building Ask for Becky Orduñez

D) Where do U.S. Citizens or Legal Permanent Residents who have graduated from a foreign high school start? NMSU Las Cruces Campus Admissions Office Suite A Educational Services Bldg. Ask for Lupe Aragon Or Ruby Ortega Ph #

These students who come to DACC/NMSU with a non- English transcript, must have their transcript translated before DACC or NMSU Admissions can admit them. These students may also have low English proficiency making them eligible for the CITE Program at NMSU or ESL classes at DACC. NOTE: These students DO NOT need to go through International Programs.

Immigrant & non-immigrant students may qualify for: ONLY US Citizens & Legal Permanent Residents may qualify for: - College Assistance Migrant Program (C.A.M.P.) Chicano Programs Center for Intensive Training in English(CITE) ENLACE

Visit our website at Immigrant Student Issues websiteImmigrant Student Issues website Or visit the NMSU Homepage: Search for: “Immigrant Student Issues” click on: “NMSU, Estás en tu casa en Programas Chicanos” On the menu on the left find: “Immigrant Student Issues Committee” For more information on this topic