For refugees and Dreamers, a little support goes a long way
Colorado Department of Higher Education
Applying for financial aid. Buying books. Transferring credits. Navigating college life is no easy task, especially for those who are adapting to a new language and culture. As we learned in a recent conversation with immigrant and refugee students, a little encouragement from a college or university can mean the difference between struggle and success.
Colorado campuses serve a more diverse student body than ever before, and many first-generation students — who are first in their family to attend college — hail from immigrant and refugee families. To find out how higher education institutions can better support their needs, we met with a group of current college students from MSU Denver, Community College of Denver and Emily Griffith Technical College, an open-access school that educates nearly 2,000 refugees from 94 countries.
Students resettling in Colorado often have an uphill climb in pursuing higher education. American schools may have trouble translating prior learning and competencies, meaning refugees must start their formal learning from scratch. As Fatoumata explained, even securing a transcript from her high school in Mali has become a months-long endeavor. She’s studying English at Emily Griffith Technical College and hopes to transfer to MSU Denver.
“They ask us questions that we can’t answer,” she said of the application process. “It is slow and expensive.”
Phillemon, a fellow Emily Griffith student from the Central African Republic, said these barriers have deterred many of his friends from getting an American education. “There’s no guarantee of a job,” he observed. “Financial aid helps, but it’s often not enough.” Still, he’s hoping his hard work will pay off with better earnings opportunities in the future.
The other roundtable participants, children of immigrants and refugees, face different but an equally daunting set of problems. Many came from Latin America at a young age and said they’ve been afforded significantly more opportunities than their parents thanks to Deferred Action Against Childhood Arrivals (DACA) — a federal program that allows undocumented young people to apply for a legal work permit — and Colorado ASSET, which lets undocumented students pay in-state tuition rates at Colorado colleges and universities.
But as the students explained, getting to college and affording college are two different things. By law, students who qualify for ASSET cannot receive in-state financial aid, forcing many students to work full-time and inch toward graduation credit by credit.
Luis, who’s nearly finished with his electrical engineering degree from MSU Denver, said money has been a constant stressor. “We fall by the wayside,” he commented. “We need to prioritize in-state funding for undocumented people.”
Other expenses pile on to the high cost of college, too. Bernabe, who’s in his fifth year at MSU Denver, said his health insurance plan shot up unexpectedly from $40 to $280 per month during his studies. “It was a lot, and it was a hit,” he said. “Fortunately, I now have insurance through my employer, but it’s only because I work full-time while going to school.”
Even if undocumented students find a way to pay for college, they often struggle to find academic and emotional resources — especially as the legality of DACA remains in question.
“The political atmosphere weighs on you. It’s trauma,” said Saira, a teacher candidate from MSU Denver. “It’s relieving to seek free medical and mental care on campus. We have a lot of pressure on us because we are undocumented, and we are immigrants. Letters of support, letters of encouragement, having the whole school and staff support you has helped.”
As the students discussed, MSU Denver offers some of the most robust resources for undocumented students in the state. Gregor Mieder and Adriana Ochoa Magallanes head up MSU’s Immigrant Services program — which provides everything from English classes to legal help — and know each student visitor on a first-name basis. President Janine Davidson has been an outspoken ally for the school’s Dreamers, and donors have even raised money to allow undocumented students to reapply for DACA permits. Providing similar programs would go a long way in supporting Dreamers across the state, students said.
But as Alejandra, an MSU nursing student, noted, students on other campuses don’t often enjoy this solidarity. She cited a racist incident that occurred at another Colorado institution that went unaddressed. “Holding [administration] accountable would be helpful,” she remarked. “Everyone deserves to feel safe on campus regardless of your immigration status.”
Students chimed in with other policy ideas. Eileen noted that some high school counselors and teachers may not realize what undocumented students go through and aren’t aware of specific programs or scholarships tailored for them; spreading that information would help more students take advantage of these opportunities. An aspiring counselor herself, Eileen hopes to use her experience as a Dreamer to serve those struggling with mental health challenges in immigrant communities.
Luis echoed this idea. “Other schools don’t broadcast that they’re friendly [to undocumented people]. I tell Dreamer students, ‘You need to choose a school that’s in your price range that aligns well with your goals and your culture.’” He suggested our agency develop guidelines for working with undocumented students and expand college access programs like concurrent enrollment, which in many cases allow high school students to earn college credit at no cost.
And though they come from different countries and speak different languages, roundtable participants said their resilience has hinged on one factor: finding a caring mentor who sees their potential and commits to their success.
“Gregor and his immigrant services team have been amazing for all of us here,” said Bernabe, who’s just a few credits shy of graduation. “He’ll find a way to reach out and figure out what to do.”
Eileen, the future counselor, agreed. “These basic things that don’t seem so important to others are super helpful to me. If there weren’t services here, I don’t know if I would be at this point in my education.”
Resources for undocumented, immigrant and refugee students
If you’d like to learn more about how to best support undocumented, immigrant and refugee students in higher education settings, check out these guides recommended by staff from MSU Denver and Emily Griffith Technical College.
