California Dreaming: Undocumented Students’ College Choices Maria Luisa Woodruff, Ph.D. Archbishop Mitty High School, San Jose

Introduction

Definitions Undocumented Students A.B. 540 Dream Act A.B. 130 and 131 Deferred Action

Background Public Policy – Dream Act – California Dream Act – Martinez vs. UC Board of Regents Literature – Latino/a college access – Chicano/a college access

Dreamer Graduation June 2012 Undocumented Literature

Research Questions 1. How do Latino undocumented students select four year colleges? 2. Do college choice processes differ for Latino/a undocumented students attending a private California university, a California State University or a University of California campus? 3. Does financial aid influence undocumented Latino/a college choice? 4. Does state or federal legislation influence college decisions?

Theoretical Framework

Economic Theory Labor economic theory – human capital (skills, knowledge, and training $$ employers and society) Cost benefit analysis – rational decision Price response theory – enrollment declines as tuition increases resulting in substitution or discouragement effect.

Outcomes College choice processes differed for Latino undocumented students depending upon institution type AB 540 and Dream Act legislation influence decisions regarding college choice

Methodology a mixed-methods multi-case study – 20 Undocumented Students Survey Interview – 9 Faculty/Staff Survey Interview – Document Review (Attended 6 conferences, 1 event, visited 5 of seven campuses represented

Allies Of the nine allies surveyed and interviewed, three were female, six were male, and five of the nine were people of color with four Latinos and one Asian Pacific Islander, three worked at private colleges, four worked at UCs, one worked at a CSU, and one worked for CSAC.

Student Demographics UC (N=9)CSU (N=3)Private (N=8) Male322 Female616 Age Year of college HS GPA

CSU Admitted students possessed a 3.13 grade point average and an SAT score of 1535 out of The admission rate is 57 percent and the campus size includes approximately 23,000 students. Even the testing average for this particular CSU exceeds the national average.

UCs UC 1 (N=7)UC 2 (N=1)UC 3 (N=1) Admit Rate22.1 %37.7 %62.6 % Size26,00024,00018,000 Majors GPA ACT SAT Reading SAT Math SAT Writing

Private Colleges Private 1 (N=4)Private 2 (N=3)Private 3 (N=1) Admit Rate58 %53 %24 % Size Majors GPA ACT2826Not reported SAT Reading SAT Math SAT Writing

Differences Private colleges - 71 percent earned above a 3.5, compared to 66 percent at the CSU, and 11 percent at the UC. Every participant was earning above a 3.0 in college at the private colleges and the CSU compared to only 55 percent attending UCs.

Bourdieu (1992), “…players can play to increase or to conserve their capital…in conformity with the tacit rules of the game and the prerequisites of the reproduction of the game and its stakes; but they can also get in to transform partially or completely, the immanent rules of the game” (p. 99).

What mattered? Financial aid – or lack thereof Policy and law – what was permitted? Arrival in the U.S. Family emphasis on education (human capital) High school support (social capital) College

Findings

What can we do? Access and advising If they qualify for DACA, encourage them to apply since it opens up employment opportunities Test waivers College waivers (4 for CSU, 4 UC, 4 Common App) I encourage students to ask for them at other institutions

California options 23 CSUs 9 UCs Private colleges – ambiguous scholarship titles for undocumented students

Outside CA Some students may not have a CA drivers license and may not want to travel using their passport Even private schools outside of CA may meet 100% of need. Some will simply use CSS profile. Be aware of political climate in states

Cal Grant If you can submit Cal Grant GPA verification, it is one less thing students need to complete. You can submit using non-SSN – that’s what I do Word to the wise – CSAC doesn’t like Macs

Once admitted Review financial aid award letters. Students do not always know the difference between “free” grant money and private loans Once they have the information, they can make an informed decision

Once they deposit All public schools and some private require an affidavit to confirm AB 540 eligibility This will require us to send final transcripts Sometimes students need assistance in completing the form.

Resources You Tube UndocU FAFSA and Common Application Tips CSAC Maldef UC Undoc.universityofcalifornia.edu Board of Governors E4fc – Educators for Fair Consideration Apply for EOP Scholarships AZ IACAC United We Dream

Any Questions?