How Can Universities Foster Educational Equity for Undocumented College Students

Abstract

Undocumented students face a multitude of barriers when pursuing higher education. This report examines what universities can do to promote the educational equity of undocumented students. The authors focus on the University of California system, nine undergraduate educational institutions that have supportive institutional policies and are located in a state that offers access to in-state tuition and state-funded financial aid. Drawing on focus groups and interviews with 214 undocumented University of California undergraduate students and an original survey with 508 respondents, the authors outline how these educational institutions have successfully closed some resource gaps by creating undocumented student programs. Then, they explore four persisting barriers: financial need, academic distraction, mental health, and limited postgraduate preparation. They end by outlining policy recommendations.