Assess Your Assets and Allies
The questions below can guide you to develop an undocumented student program for your campus.
Programs and Services
- Is there an existing physical space on campus that could become a dedicated center for undocumented students? – Consider places with ample space for students to congregate, rest, convene, study, access computers, etc.
- Which student groups and allies, including staff and faculty, might be able to provide recommendations for a space?
- Are there particular donors who could provide financial support to tailor a space for undocumented students, or to help build one?
- It is essential to ensure the undocumented students feel protected by their institution. Will your campus implement a policy to protect these students if DACA is overturned? What kind(s) of immediate legal support can your school provide to these students?
- Which organizations or networks can your institution partner with to help provide legal support to undocumented students?
- Which donors might be willing to contribute funds for an attorney to provide services to undocumented students and their families? – When hiring an attorney, try to find one who knows the immigrant experience and who will understand the needs of the students and their families.
- Are there student fees or other institutional funding sources that can be tapped to help provide legal support to students?
- Does your institution provide culturally-competent academic counseling? If not, what changes need to be made?
- Are there student groups or other allies, including staff and faculty, who could provide recommendations on ways to better support undocumented students through academic counseling?
- Are there work-study positions, or other opportunities, for current students to serve as peer counselors to incoming undocumented students?
- Does your institution currently provide mental health services that are culturally-competent and designed to address the unique challenges of undocumented students?
- What would your existing health services department need in order to provide tailored mental health care for undocumented students?
- Which other departments could you collaborate with in order to help increase mental health resources? – For example, academic counselors, other psychological or health departments, and outreach programs.
- What types of outreach could the mental health services department offer to increase campus understanding of the challenges faced by undocumented students?
- Is your mental health program able to provide both scheduled and drop-in appointments?
- What are some ways your institution could subsidize co-pays for medication?
- Does your institution currently run any type of immersion program designed to help entering freshmen prepare for the academic rigors of attending your institution? Can and does the program include undocumented students?
- What are some ways your institution can provide undocumented students with the financial support they need to participate?
- Which scholarships or school grants could be made available to help cover tuition and fees?
- Are there any private donors who might be interested in supporting these efforts or who could provide funding to enable more undocumented students to attend the program?
- Does your institution have a body that oversees financial aid resources?
- Can that body commit to prioritizing the needs of undocumented students? If not, what would it take to make it happen?
- Who are the possible champions for undocumented students in your institution’s financial aid office – people who could help establish special programs for these students (e.g., work study) or provide additional guidance?
- Which scholarships could your institution dedicate to undocumented students?
- What are the most pressing needs for undocumented students attending your institution (e.g., housing, food, textbooks etc.)? Which of these needs can the institution help address?
- Is your institution able to provides vouchers or other discounts for the purchase of books at the student store?
- Does your institution operate a book exchange where students in need can obtain required textbooks?
- Which groups or other allies on your campus might be willing to help implement a textbook lending library?
- What other resources you can you tap into to help undocumented students obtain books (e.g., book retailer, local libraries)?
- Does your institution guarantee on-campus housing for undocumented students? – This is especially helpful in areas with high rents.
- What are some ways to increase the financial aid package for undocumented students to ensure they can continue to afford the high cost housing?
- What would your institution require in order to implement an emergency grant program to help students with housing-related shortfalls?
- What would your institution require in order to implement a work-study program for undocumented students to help cover the costs of housing?
- Which departments at your institution (e.g., Admissions, Financial Aid) are able to help undocumented students navigate their housing options?
- Is food security an issue for undocumented students at your institution?
- Are there student groups on campus who can inform you of the problem?
- What are some ways your institution could partner with other departments or donors to minimize the cost of food? – For example, bulk and wholesale pricing through the the school’s dining program; donations from local banks or private donors to sustain the program; or food donations from local grocery stores.
- What other food-related resources could your institution offer? – For example a meals program, cooking classes, or information on affordable, healthy eating?
- Does your institution provide an online presence for undocumented students to connect and receive relevant information? Does it include information for parents?
- What information would your website provide? – For example information about on-campus resources, a community event calendar, access to work opportunities for students, legal updates, relevant current affairs, and additional topics identified as important by the undocumented student community.
- Are there student groups, faculty, or other allies who could provide recommendations on ways to develop or improve a website for the undocumented community?
Operations
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
- Are students and faculty already motivated to address the challenges and needs of undocumented students?
- Are there students, groups, and/or faculty, who’d be willing to put time into assessing the needs and challenges faced by undocumented students, with recommendations to meet those needs?
- Is the administration willing to meet with undocumented students and hear their personal stories?
- Which campus community members would be willing to press the administration for action?
- What allies can be enlisted in the effort – the student newspaper, the student senate, faculty association, workers’ union, etc?
- Is it possible to have some portion of student fees allocated for undocumented student programs?
- Does your college or university president (or academic dean) have discretionary funds that could be tapped for undocumented student services?
- If your institution is part of a statewide system, what opportunities are there to unite with other colleges/universities to press for funding from the “central office.”
- Are there people of means in your area or donors to your institution that have expressed support for immigrants, or who are new or first-generation Americans themselves that might be approached for support?
Partners & Allies
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?
- E4FC can provide valuable resources to any institution seeking to support the undocumented student community. Which resources will your institution take advantage of?