Support for Student Populations
- First-Generation Students
- Military-Connected Students
- Transfer Students
- Undocumented Students
Supporting Undocumented Students
Learn about undocumented students at UC San Diego, and how best to support them.
Defining the Population
Students who entered the United States without a lawful status or who entered lawfully but overstayed their visas (student visa, tourist visa, etc.).
Challenges/Obstacles
Challenges/ obstacles faced by these students
as a result of their immigration status
- Securing employment/ internship positions on and off UC San Diego campus (either no work authorization or lack of citizen status)
- Securing scholarships/ grants/ financial aid from UC San Diego
- Studying abroad
- Having access to mental health services
- Finding spaces where they feel welcomed
- Finding programs that offer support for undocumented students
- Identifying as undocumented
Best Practices to Support Undocumented Students
- Familiarize yourself with resources and refer to appropriate departments/ centers/ offices:
- Learn the appropriate language/ terminology (i.e. illegal vs. undocumented, sanctuary, etc.).
- Familiarize yourself with state, federal, and campus policies:
- California Dream Act
- DACA
- AB540
- UC-policies reaffirming rights/ responsibilities to community
- Reaffirm support/ confidentiality for students to feel secure sharing their status.
- Exercise flexibility:
- Undocumented students find themselves in situations that are out of their control, such as immigration appointments that may require them to skip school or class assignments. View this group of students with a similar lens we view students in the military — there are events out of their control that they need to tend to.
Resources: Articles, Professional Associations & Other Links
Recent Chronicle of Higher Ed / Insider Higher Ed articles
- California Dreamers—and Their Nightmares
- Aid Applications From Undocumented Students Drop
- Undocumented Students' Fears after a DACA Recipient's Arrest
Professional associations
UC system
- University of California Undocumented Students Initiative
- University of California Undocumented Student Resources
White papers / fact sheets
In accordance with applicable Federal and State law and University policy, the University of California does not discriminate, or grant preferences, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and/or other protected categories.
More information about Proposition 209 can be found here.
More information about the University of California Anti-Discrimination Policy can be found here.