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We recommend you start by reading the Our Philosophy and Our Approach pages, to get a sense of how we think and what we do.

From there, explore the program-related content in any order that makes sense to you. Visit our sitemap for a complete list of the content on this website.

The UC Berkeley USP started after a group of UC Berkeley staff, faculty, and students delivered a proposal for such a program to the UC Berkeley Administration. This proposal was based on data the group had gathered about undocumented students on campus. The data proved the case that UC Berkeley needed to improve the conditions of the undocumented students in its community. It also helped contextualize the situation for administrators and others who were unfamiliar with the circumstances and challenges facing undocumented students at UC Berkeley and in the wider community. They gathered the following types of data:

• Estimates of undocumented students on campus (self-identified and others) and their countries of origin
• The ratio of transfer students to freshmen
• The gender breakdown of undocumented students
• The annual income of undocumented students and their families, contrasted against their financial aid packages
• The GPAs of undocumented students

The data helped us assess the types of services and programs that would be most supportive for undocumented student success. For example, statistics found that many undocumented students needed mental health support and increases in financial aid. In addition to demonstrating the needs of undocumented students, the data has since functioned to measure the success of the program and its impacts.

Assessing your assets and allies during all stages in the development of an undocumented student program not only expands the energy, ideas, and resources available to you, it also builds community and creates an engaged network of support for the program.

Here are some thought questions to guide your process.

Undocumented student programs are relatively new and we are all learning as we go. By making time to speak together, we can discuss individual programs and policies, as well as share information about laws, funding, new research and other useful resources.

View this page to sign up, or find out about upcoming calls.

View our map of undocumented student programs nationwide and find programs operating near you.

The articles and information in this collection provide more background on the formation of our USP, as well as our philosophy and planning.