Dear Campus Community,
Over 13,000 DACAmented youth (recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) live in our state as well as many more undocumented youth and families. Challenges come with the pursuit of a higher education degree and affect every student we serve. Making the effort to navigate coursework, find supportive relationships, build a sense of belonging, and foster self-development is even more impressive when a student does all of that while living with insecurities of immigration status.
On March 18, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Dream and Promise Act, H.R.6, which would establish a roadmap to citizenship for Dreamers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) recipients鈥攑rotecting upwards of . It is our hope that this Act will also pass in the U.S. Senate, thereby providing a pathway to citizenship and expanding federal financial assistance, such as loans, which are critical to education access and equity. We hope this is just the first step in comprehensive immigration reform to address the plight of the millions of undocumented students and familes living in this country without any pathway to citizenship.
Here in 麻豆原创, the 81st (2021) Session of the Legislature is underway. The Legislature is considering legislation to ease the burden on students who are ineligible to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Sponsored by Assemblyman Flores, Assemblywoman Marzola, and Assemblywoman Torres, provides that a student does not have to certify their citizenship status to receive state scholarships such as the Silver State Opportunity Grant or Millennium Scholarship. It also creates an alternative form to determine financial need. 麻豆原创 State College welcomes this legislation recognizing the positive correlation between scholarships and students’ ability to access higher education.
Undocumented members of our community have been especially hard hit by the pandemic, as for the most part their families are ineligible to seek federal resources and state resources are limited. All Scorpions are encouraged to get involved and promote campus and community resources. Click here to learn how:
Thank you for your continued support of all students in the state of 麻豆原创 and their pursuit of education. By celebrating excellence and highlighting joy in diversity, you continue to Be the Difference.
Sincerely,
Bart Patterson
President