Empowering Undocumented Students, Mixed-Status Families to Meet Their Education and Career Goals
Our Undocumented Student Center is a welcoming and supportive space. We offer nurturing guidance and resources to help empower undocumented students and mixed-status families to meet their higher education and career goals. At the same time, the Center strives to educate our campus community about the needs of undocumented youth and their families through our UndocuAlly trainings for faculty, staff and students.
Introduction to the AV学院 Undocumented Student Center
Help for Cal Grant B recipients with applying to the . Eligible students who apply can perform community or volunteer service and the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) will award up to $3,000 per academic year (up to $1,500 per semester or up to $1,000 per quarter) to 2,500 eligible students.
Legal Assistance
for enrolled students provided by the Foundation for California Community Colleges and CHIRLA (Coalition for Humane Immigrants Rights).
Are you renewing your DACA? Find FREE immigration legal support and get your DACA renewal fee covered if you’re enrolled in a California Community College. Visit today to schedule an appointment with trusted legal services.
Need to meet with an Immigration Attorney? You can schedule an appointment via the . Scroll halfway down the web page to “Access Legal Services”, click “Community Colleges” button, and select a date and time that works for you.
consultations and processing.
Health and Wellness
Access to on-campus food pantry, which also stocks women’s wellness and hygiene products.
Receive free individual therapy sessions (bilingual in Spanish), sponsored by聽Wellness Together聽and聽HearYou.org.聽Visit or contact the Undocumented Student Center for a referral.
Attend monthly Self-care lunch and Undocu talks.
Get Started at AV学院
AV学院 strives to provide equitable access to education for all of our students. You deserve to continue your educational journey, to fulfill your dreams, and to transform your life.
What is the California Dream Act? Learn about the California Dream Act and who qualifies for scholarships and grants under the California Dream Act.
What is AB 540? Learn about AB 540, what it means for those who qualify, and the requirements to qualify.
Financial Aid for Undocumented Students
The California Dream Act is a series of two bills, AB130 and AB131, that allow AB540/SB 68/AB2000 eligible undocumented students in California to apply for in-state financial aid. AB130 allows AB540/SB68/AB2000 students to apply for scholarships at California public colleges and universities that are funded from non-state sources, and AB 131 allows for AB540/SB68/AB2000 students to apply for in-state financial aid for public universities and colleges.
In order to apply for financial aid through the California Dream Act, you must qualify as an AB540/SB68/AB2000 student by meeting聽the requirements listed in the聽.
Items to Note
Ineligible students can still attend California colleges as long as they meet the admissions criteria and are accepted by the college or university. They also must pay non-resident fees.
The California Dream Act Application聽is聽unrelated聽to the federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Learn more here:聽
If you are an undocumented student and you meet聽, you can apply for state financial aid.
The application opens October 1 and the聽free California Dream Act Application (CADAA) must be submitted by聽March 2聽to qualify for California aid.
There is an additional deadline of聽September 2聽for students completing the CA Dream Act that are attending a community college.
Items to Note
You can still apply after March 2, but you鈥檒l lose Cal Grant eligibility and Universities of California (UCs) and California State Universities (CSUs) require that you submit the application by March 2 in order to receive state financial aid during the academic year that you plan to attend at that university.
罢丑别听 (20 U.S.C. 搂 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99)聽is a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Any information provided by the student to AV学院 is protected under FERPA.
Students assigned male at birth between the ages of 18 and 25, must register for the Selective Service as a requirement to apply for CADAA. View/download聽聽to learn where and how to complete the Selective Service Registration Form.
Financial Aid Specialists can assist you with applying to Selective Service.
Frequently Asked Questions
The California Non-Resident Tuition Petition is also known as the 鈥淎ffidavit鈥�.
In order to apply for financial aid through the California Dream Act, you must qualify as an AB540/SB68/AB2000 student.
To qualify for AB540/SB68/AB2000, you must meet the requirements listed in the聽.
The California Non-Resident Tuition Petition is also known as the 鈥淎ffidavit鈥�.
Submit the聽聽with a copy of your official high school transcript to the Admissions and Records Office at AV学院.
Contact Admissions and Records to locate your specific Admissions and Records Technician based on the first letter of your last name and submit your affidavit to them. For general questions, contact enrollmentservices@sierracollege.edu.
Items to Note
Once you are ready to transfer to a private school, CSU or UC, you will need to submit a new Affidavit to that University. Download the聽听辞谤听聽affidavits here.
If you do not attend AV学院 for one semester or more, you will need to resubmit your Affidavit to AV学院 Admissions and Records office.
If you are considered a non-resident for tuition purposes (if you don鈥檛 qualify for AB540/SB68/AB2000), you can still attend California colleges as long as you meet the admissions criteria and are accepted by the college or university. However, you will pay approximately three times more than a resident student as an聽international student.
Every students鈥� pathway to eligibility is unique, and we are here to help you figure that out.
For more information, check out these resources:聽,听聽and contact the Undocumented Student Center at聽undocu@sierracollege.edu聽to learn about your options.
If you have questions about your eligibility, check out this聽 that compares AB 540, AB 2000, the California Dream Act and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA).
Please be aware that DACA does not give students eligibility for the FAFSA or any federal financial aid.
Keeping the Dream Alive
Ribbon cutting ceremony during the Grand Opening of the Undocumented Student Center in January 2019.
We provide comprehensive support services to students who are undocumented, of mixed family status, and allies.
AV学院 aims to create a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for all students.
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Subscribe to our Undocumented Student Center monthly newsletter. The Undocumented Student Center Newsletter provides AV学院 students with timely information about upcoming activities and events, resources, and legal updates.
About Us
The Undocumented Student Center was privately funded by the California Campus Catalyst Fund. The Catalyst Fund is a grant focused on higher education opportunities and resources for undocumented students. These grants were provided to two-year and four-year institutions throughout the state. The Catalyst Fund is a partnership between Immigrants Rising and AV学院.
Currently, the Undocumented Student Center is funded by the state of California via .
In December 2020, the “” was awarded to AV学院 by the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges.
Virtual services 9:00am – 2:00pm Monday, Wednesday and Thursday via Zoom (https://cccconfer.zoom.us/j/5574205383). In person services on Wednesday and Thursday.
