1. Undocumented Students & How to Help
Presenters: Barrington Armstrong, Coordinator for Student Development/PDSO
Terri Fahnestock, Admissions Specialist/Transcript Evaluator
Jordana Vera-Montero, Student Services Representative
Ozarks Technical Community College – Springfield, MO

2. Review of Undocumented Students
In the US, an estimated 11.5 million undocumented immigrants (Hesse, 2017)
Estimated 65,000 graduate high schools each year
In 2016, Missouri had more than 3,000 DACA recipients (American Immigration Council, n.d.)
63% of students eligible in Missouri applied for DACA status
Graduating seniors wishing to go to college
Vast majority first-generation
Friends/Family insufficient for information
Students don’t realize they are different from peers
Cannot complete FAFSA
Cannot apply for scholarships
Cannot received A+
Are not protected by FERPA student privacy laws

3. AACRAO Feature Article 2017
Hesse asked what is a DACA student or DREAMer
Majority of respondents answers revealed misunderstanding or confusion about the terms and policies
Study found one respondent was unaware if she had ever met an undocumented individual
Study found day-to-day protocols were non-existent
How do you start a conversation with an undocumented student without making them feel uncomfortable?
How do you ensure your questions as an admissions person isn’t a form of macroaggression?
AACRAO Feature Article 2017
Hesse explored admissions councilors’ knowledge of undocumented students within the Maryland’s community college system

4. Key Definitions Visa Holders F1 traditional international students
Any other valid/unexpired Visas
Other common statuses – Refugees and Asylum
Proper documentation to show some type of legal status

5. Continue – Review of Key Definitions
Undocumented – OTC Terms
DREAMers
Without a legal status or “illegal immigrants”
Expired Visas
Two major categories – DREAMers and DACA
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act)
Members of congress attempted to pass in 2001 – no federal regulations
States left to make their own pathways
Undocumented children have access to K-12 education
Not extended to higher education

6. Continue – Review of Key Definitions
DACA
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
2 year temporary protection against deportation & given work permit
Some states (not Missouri) granted in-state tuition
Other category – China, Colombia, India, Philippines, Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Vietnam, Venezuela, Jamaica, Uruguay, Bolivia

7. Laws & Professional Licenses
With no Federal guidance or laws regarding undocumented students, states are left to develop their own policies

8. Missouri House Bill No. 3
“Unlawful Immigration Status” or undocumented students are charged no less than out-of-state or international tuition rates (whichever is highest)
Not eligible for scholarships
Such as A+ Scholarship

9. Professional Licenses in Missouri
Students completing certain programs unable to take the licensure exams
Nursing
Dental Hygiene
Encourage students to research desired programs to ensure they can work after graduation
States that allow licensures
California
New York

10. OTC Admissions Process
Previous lack of direction.

11. How to Help Understanding tuition and cost
Like other students – helping students prepare for the cost of obtaining a higher education
Provide information for outside scholarships
Research Professional Licenses
Advisor assistance to research degrees
Finding other states willing to grant undocumented students licenses
Be realistic in their goals
Figuring out the cost of the programs
If there is a path to legal status (even if it’s expensive) maybe the student’s best interests to gain legal status
Provide additional information/documents
Creation of a separate documents track for Communication Management
Documents sent by and mail
Mailed items bi-lingual
Reach out from an advisor to help navigate the system
How to Help
OTC taking measures to help undocumented and DACA students make a smoother transition to college

12. Building Resources for Staff & Students
Non-U.S. Citizens
Tuition & Fees
Allowable Attendence
Required Documents
B1/B2 Tourist
International
single class, non-degree seeking
Visa, I-94
F-1 Student
Full-time only
International Packet
F-1 Visiting Student
Part-time only (<7 hrs)
Visa, I-20, Coordination Form
F-2 Dependent
Less than Full-time (<12hrs)
Visa, Sponsor's I-20
J-1
Not Authorized
OTC has no exchange programs
H-1
Non-degree seeking
H-4
K-1
No restrictions
K-2
R-2
TN/TD
T-1,2,3
Refugee or Asylee
In-district*
TPS
Visa, I-94, TPS letter
Permanent Resident
Permanent Resident Card
DACA
U.S. high school transcript, I-797
Undocumented
U.S. high school transcript
*Student must meet in-district residency criteria in accordance with OTC policy.
Building resources on the website for easy access
Answering common questions
Providing resources such as outside scholarships
Offering professional development across campus

13. ICE Agents FERPA Issues ICE Agent on campus
FERPA only covers US citizens and US Permanent Residents
Does not include international or undocumented students
ICE Agent on campus
If an agent request more information than what is listed for public directory, refer the agent to the Registrar’s Office
Registrar – ensure agent provides proper documentation such as a subpoena or court order to gain access to student’s records
ICE Agents
Immigration and Customs Enforcement

14. We want to stay here, we want to CONTRIBUTE, we want to make America better
- Hina Naveed on DREAMers

15. Thank you for attending
References American Immigration Council (n.d.) Immigrants in Missouri. Retrieved from Hesse, E. (2017). Recruiting undocumented students: A qualitative analysis of college admissions counselors’ experiences. College and University, 92(2), Immigration enforcement (n.d.). Teman Training [Webinar]. Migration Policy Institute (2017). DACA- eligible populations and application rates by country of origin. Retrieved from programs/data-hub/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca-profiles