Maintaining High Expectations: Scholarships and other opportunities for Undocumented students Jordan Mazariegos – College Student at TCC Christina Starzl – Conexiones Coordinator Lindsay White, M.A. – Manager Education Outreach Center, TCC

Jordan Mazariegos

Survival Circumstances out of the student’s control Brought over by family members seeking a better life Overstay of a Visa Legal error in paperwork Undocumented: lacking necessary documents, as for e.g. permission to live or work in a country

Addressing the Daunting Barriers Each year, U.S. high schools graduate an estimated 65,000 undocumented students, of whom only 5 percent ever attend college. (Passel, 2003) For most undocumented immigrants, the major barriers to postsecondary access are both financial and legal

Addressing the Daunting Barriers First generation going to college Cannot qualify for federal aid Needing to support family Ability to continue career after graduating from college/tech school

How a teacher expectations can make a student a successful DREAMER Brophy and Good in 1987 found that teachers may unconsciously send different messages to low achievers than to high achievers. For sustaining expectations to occur, it is only necessary that teachers engage in behaviors that maintain students' and teachers' previously formed low expectations (e.g., by giving low- expectation students only drill work, easy questions, etc.) (p. 34, Brophy and Good 1987).

Creating a safe space for Dreamers Don’t ask undocumented students to self–identify Be mindful of language used within classroom; say “undocumented” rather than “illegal” Keep a balance of resources that can be available for all students Create student certificates using the students’ full correct names with exact dates Establish a climate of trust that allows the student to reveal their situation at their own pace by following these practices:

Creating a safe space for Dreamers Have posters that reflect solidarity and support for diversity, similar to California’s AB540 Ally program

How you react to their disclosure is critical The more positively the person receives the information, the more comfortable he or she will make the student. Assure them of confidentiality Do not try to “fix” everything without knowing what could jeopardize a student’s immigration status, provide referrals and follow up with student When a Dreamer discloses their status…..

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

Local Resources for Immigrants YWCA Immigrant and Refugee Center 8175 East 17 th Street Tulsa OK Catholic Charities 2450 N Harvard Ave Tulsa, OK (918) Boesche Legal Clinic,The University of Tulsa 407 S. Florence Ave. Tulsa, OK

National Scholarship Resources for Undocumented Students Private scholarships on Fastweb.com Golden Door Scholars “Like” DEEP (Dream Educational Empowerment Program) on Facebook for updates and applicable scholarships Educators for Fair Education (E4FC) Life after College: A Guide for Undocumented Students Educators for Fair Education (E4FC) Life after College: A Guide for Undocumented Students

Opportunities in Tulsa, Oklahoma Lindsay White, M.A. Manager Education Outreach Center, TCC