Foster trust

If an undocumented student discloses their immigration status with you— that is, if a student shares with you that he/she/they were born outside the United States and is not a U.S.

It is reasonable to feel that you don't have answers to all the questions undocumented students might have, but if a student has questions, it will generally be about:

• Education system navigation
• Referrals to legal, government, and/or health providers
• Money concerns or change of their current situation
• Academic advising
• Respect students’ confidentiality and never “out” a student.

The first step to build trust is to get to know the student(s) and to determine what their needs are.

Undocumented Student Profile

Most college-bound undocumented students are:

• Courageous, resilient and resourceful
• Often attend elementary, middle, or high school in the U. S.
• Want to pursue a college education
• Lack of familiarity with the financial process
• Often work to pay for school and to help their families
• Lack of sufficient institutional support
• Lack of a way to become legal permanent residents or U. S. citizens.

Citizen or legal resident students— they probably have many questions about going to college.

Here are some important facts:

• Undocumented students can go to college. It is legal, but we recognize it is not easy
• They might feel alone. There are plenty of resources and we can assure them that they are not alone
• Undocumented students will apply like any other student but they will need to establish residency through the HB1079.
• Immigration laws change frequently and their situation could change in the future
• There are plenty of resources to help you guide the students
• Even though undocumented students are not eligible for FAFSA, they might be eligible for In-state financial aid and several scholarships that students can research and can apply.

Edition 03/05/2025