lessons learned in our first year: uc davis ab540 & undocumented student center establishing an...
TRANSCRIPT
LESSONS LEARNED IN OUR FIRST YEAR: UC DAVIS AB540 & UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT CENTER
ESTABLISHING AN UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT RESOURCE CENTER
Overview
Our foundation
Services provided
Programs & Partnerships
Legal Services
Ally Training
Planning
Defining our terms
•AB540: California’s in-state tuition exemption
•CA DREAM Act: Financial Aid legislation
•UCOP: University of California Office of the President
•DACA: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals
Our foundationInspiration, frameworks and priorities
STUDENT SUCCESS FRAMEWORK
As defined by Laura I. Rendón:
• Avoids a deficit based perspectives• Provides high quality, asset-based academic and student support
services• Trains and prepares faculty and staff to work with a new student
demographic
Rendón, Laura I. Leveraging Student Assets to Foster Success, Keynote Address at Hispanic Community College Conference. Ankeny, Iowa, October 16, 2014
STUDENT PROPOSAL
• April 2013: We request that we are given the opportunity to work with Vice Chancellor Adela de la Torre in creating an AB 540 Resource Center with the staff designated solely for the needs of AB 540 and undocumented students. In order to run an effective and successful center, we need a trained program coordinator and student staff managing the everyday needs of the center. The staff would be adept in all AB 540 and undocumented student related needs and issues in addition to serving as leaders for the center. The addendum or policy change will allow the center to staff AB 540 and undocumented students who are committed to help maintain the center.
PRIORITIES
• Creating a safe space for undocumented Students at UC Davis• Student support and retention• Collaboration across campus departments• Educating campus community• Creating and coordinating resources• Providing outreach to high school and Community college
SYSTEM-WIDE INITIATIVE
October 30, 2013, UC President Janet Napolitano announced:
“At UC, students from all backgrounds are welcome. Undocumented students often face unique challenges in pursuing their academic goals. This initiative will increase student access and success by enhancing systemwide and campus-specific resources for undocumented UC students.”
• Equity Initiative• 5 million dollars across 9 campuses to be spent in two years
• Funded through one-time reserves. No tuition dollars or state funds were used.
• System-wide summit held after year one
ONE-STOP: HOLISTIC RESOURCE CENTER
AB540/Undocumented
Student Resource Center
Advocacy & outreach
Food Security
Housing Resources
Emergency Loan Program
Mental Health
Professional
Safe Space Bilingual materials
Creative self-expression
Textbook & laptop lending library
Academic advising &
support
Legal support
Career Development
Where We Began…
• Location, location, location• Public vs. private• Finite availability
• Developing infrastructure• Financial support & Development• Operating principles• Creating curriculum
• Building Trust• Involving students in every aspect• Getting to know each other
• Creating awareness• Defining the center and our mission• Marketing & outreach
AB540 & UNDOCUMENTED STUDENT CENTER ORGANIZATION
Information Services
Co-Curricular Programs
Advisory
INFORMATION
• Academic Advising
• Financial Aid
• Health Care
• Banking
• Driver’s Licenses/State ID’s
• DACA—renewals/initials
• Financial Literacy
• Workplace Know Your Rights
• EOP/PAC outreach
• Professional Skills• Resume Writing• Interview Skills
SERVICES
• Legal Consultations
• Mental Health- Counselors
• Study Jams/Quiet hours
• Writing Tutor
• Scholarship Jams
• Meal Program
• Emergency grants
• Pending:• Textbook support• Laptop lending/financing• Research mentorship
CO CURRICULAR PROGRAMS
Ally Training• Educators• Peer
Symposia• AB540 Awareness Week• Yolo County Educators’ • URAW• Affordable Living Resources
Legal Workshops• VAWA/T&U Visas• DACA Renewal• Translator training• Advance Parole
Mental Health & Wellness• Cafecito Support Group• Health Happens Here
• Writer’s Circle
ADVISORY
• UC Davis Departments
• Yolo County:• Supervisor’s Office• City of Davis• Public Schools
• High School Outreach• Woodland• Dixon• Sacramento• Winters
Community College Outreach• Sacramento• Woodland
THE FAB FOUR
AB540 & Undoc.
Student Center
Registrar
Admissions
Financial Aid
School of Law
Immigration Clinic
COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY-BASED PARTNERSHIPS:• ACADEMIC ADVISORS• COUNSELING SERVICES• INTERNSHIP & CAREER
CENTER• OTHER RESOURCE CENTERS• ETHNIC STUDIES
DEPARTMENTS• STUDENT VOLUNTEERS• CITY & COUNTY OFFICES• FAITH BASED ORGANIZATIONS• EXTERNAL LEGAL
ORGANIZATIONS
LEGAL SERVICES FOR UNDOCUMENTED
STUDENTS
Partnership with the UC Davis School of Law Immigration Clinic
• The Immigration Clinic is a legal services non-profit• Drop-in weekly office hours in the AB540 &
Undocumented Student Center• In-depth assistance at the Immigration Law Clinic• Available to students, their family members, and
community members•Mutually funded
Benefits of Immigration Legal Services
• Foster academic success of students• Promote general well-being, safety, and growth of students • Build partnerships with other community organizations• Offer immigration legal support and resources to other
campus departments• Serve the greater community
Breakdown of Service Areas
Service Area Number
Percent
Family-Based Petitions 50 25%
Renewal DACA 40 20%
Initial DACA 29 15%
DAPA 24 12%
Other 20 10%
Advance Parole 18 9%
Naturalization 7 4%
Victim-Based Petitions 6 3%
Criminal or Detention 3 2%
TOTAL 197 100%
Cases as of May 19, 2015
Breakdown of Service Areas
• In-house staff attorney• Either with an Undocumented Student Center or another on-
campus department.• Partnership with nearby law school or legal non-profit
•State Bar Association Programs• Application assistance workshops• Legal information workshops• Referral coordinator
How can we set up immigration legal services on our campus?
Best Practices
In-house staff attorney, either funded by the university or through a partnership with a law school or legal non-profit• Alternatively: A confidential space dedicated to legal services for
undocumented students
Availability of services for students’ family members and community members
Capacity to screen for stronger forms of immigration relief
Best Practices
Connections with community organizations
Trainings, educational programs, and other support for other campus departments
Training for Center staff about the confidentiality protections for people they refer to the attorney(s)
Best Practices
In Progress:• Support for students’ immigration application fees• Non-immigration legal services for undocumented individuals
UNDOCUALLY PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS
UNDOCUALLY PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS: VISION
• A professional learning opportunity for educators to develop and enhance their working knowledge regarding serving undocumented student populations and validating their presence at UC Davis.
• Target audience: faculty, staff, and graduate/professional students
• Facilitators: AB540 & Undocumented Center, Immigration Law School, and Counseling Services
First UndocuAlly Program for Educator’s cohort 2014-2015
UNDOCUALLY PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS: IMPLEMENTATION
• Two focus groups and two mock sessions
• Three hour long session• Laws and Policies• Access and Support• Student Panel• Mental Health• Best Practices
• Six campus-wide sessions during the 2014-2015 academic year•Around 220 participants
Last UndocuAlly Program for Educators cohort 2014-2015
UNDOCUALLY PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS: DATA
• Pre- and post-test completed at each session
• Five multiple choice questions, paper based
•completed by all participants
*Placard provided to all participants to display in their offices
UPE: Pre/Post Preliminary Analysis
•Takeaway #1Participants have “pre-existing” knowledge regarding
undocumented student experiences and challenges •misinformed vs. well informed
•Takeaway #2Language sensitivity, specifically the use of the term
“illegal,” continues to be an area of growth•Takeaway #3
Participants do not equate providing referrals with effective allyship
UNDOCUALLY PROGRAM FOR EDUCATORS: NEXT STEPS
• UndocuAlly Program for Educators 2.0• Sessions content-focused (e.g. academic advising, financial aid, etc.)
• Department-specific versions • E-learning component (in progress)• UndocuAlly Peer Training
Making Plans
PLANNING…
Identify Resources (not just funding)
Key departments Individual allies Community resources
Assess situation
Campus climate
Current Policies & Legislation
Campus processes
Students Needs
MORE PLANNING…
Develop content
Goals Programs Services Timelines
Model
Embedded Services Program Center
SB247: Dream Centers Testimony: California Senate Committee on Education
THANK YOU!
CONTACT INFORMATIONMarcus TangUC Davis Immigration Law Clinic(530) [email protected]
Andrea GaytanAB540 & Undocumented Student Center(530)[email protected]
Vanessa SegundoAB540 & Undocumented Student Center(530)[email protected]