Who is an undocumented student?
An undocumented student is a person who lives in the United States, but who does not have official legal status as either a citizen or as a legal permanent resident. Many undocumented students were brought to the U.S by their parents when they were very young and may even consider themselves to be American because they have grown up and attended schools in the U.S. Some undocumented students may not even be aware of their legal status for various reasons.
How can I create an undocu-friendly environment?
Many undocumented students and their parents are understandably cautious about revealing their status to others, including school officials. Undocumented students can benefit from seeing information for them in various spaces without having to identify themselves. Contact OVCDEI at diversity@illinois.edu for brochures on undocumented student support and other materials that campus staff may post or display that reflect your support of immigrants and undocumented students.
How does an undocumented student’s legal status affect his or her chances of admission to the University of Illinois?
The majority of colleges and universities in the U.S consider undocumented students for admission. At Illinois, an undocumented student’s legal status does not impact their admission decision. However, tuition rates differ for in-state and out-of-state residents. Some non-citizens, including undocumented students, may be eligible for in-state tuition, although they do not qualify for Illinois Commitment.
Do undocumented students need to self-identify in the admissions process?
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) regulations protect the privacy of the student records, including admissions applications, at all colleges and universities. It is up to each student to disclose their legal status as they see fit. They should not be encouraged to disclose this information as it is a personal choice.
If a non-citizen student would like to be considered for in-state tuition, they will need to follow the instructions provided by Undergraduate Admissions.
What if a student is a citizen, but their parents are not? Are they eligible for financial aid?
Students who are citizens are eligible for many types of financial aid, even when their parents are not citizens. Students from mixed-status families (where parent or siblings is not a citizen) may experience challenges when navigating higher education. The Undocumented Student Support Services is available to assist mixed-status students as well as undocumented students. Contact undocumented@illinois.edu for more information.
Are there funds to cover DACA/TPS renewals?
While there is no funding currently allocated to help pay for DACA or TPS renewals, Undocumented Student Support Services works to identify funding sources when possible to alleviate this cost. For more information, email undocumented@illinois.edu.
Can Undocumented students be employed on campus?
Students with work permits are able to be employed through either on-campus and off-campus jobs, with the exception of federal work study and potentially other federally-funded positions. Your unit’s human resources department can answer questions about required documentation. Students who do not have work permits (fully undocumented individuals) are not eligible for employment.
Can undocumented students receive scholarships from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign?
Yes, undocumented students are eligible for state and institutional aid thanks to the Illinois RISE Act. Undocumented, DACA, and TPS students are not eligible for federal financial aid, so may not complete the FAFSA. However, campus units can offer scholarships directly to all students regardless of status. Incoming and returning undergraduate students may be eligible for the Alternative Application through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission to help determine state and institutional financial aid.
How many undocumented students are at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign? Does the university protect my personally identifiable student education records?
The University of Illinois does not track of students who identify as undocumented, DACA, TPS, or similar immigration statuses. Therefore, we are unable to know how many undocumented students attend at the University of Illinois. Moreover, student data is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which guarantees students access to their educational records and prohibits dissemination of educational records without the student’s consent.