Undocumented students face numerous challenges on the road to graduation. The Dreaming Beyond Borders Resource Center makes sure they never have to go it alone.
Oregon State University was founded on the premise that everyone, regardless of social status or background, has the right to a college education. More than a century ago, this meant welcoming women and racial minorities to the table. Today, this mission stretches to cover one of Oregon’s most vulnerable populations: the undocumented.
“Undocumented students have to wade through so much confusion and anxiety,” says Raina Martinez, a counselor in the Educational Opportunities Program. “They have dreams of becoming contributing members of society, but face so many challenges along the way. We make sure they know that we care.”
While there is no federal law expressly barring undocumented students from earning a college degree, that doesn’t mean it’s an easy road. According to the United We Dream Network, less than 10% continue to a university after high school. Even fewer graduate.
It’s not a mystery why. Undocumented students aren’t eligible for federal financial aid, and even those who achieve DACA status under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program are limited in what they can secure.
Others struggle for different reasons. Changing, inconsistent federal laws, language barriers and fear of deportation often prevent young immigrants from seeking, being aware of, or knowing how to access the resources legally available to them.
Enter: the Dreaming Beyond Borders Resource Center.
Housed under the Educational Opportunities Program, Dreaming Beyond Borders helps undocumented, DACA-status and mixed-status-family students overcome the hurdles in their path by providing practical support in a safe, welcoming environment when it’s needed most.
“We are a central location where these students can come together to seek support on issues that are unique to them,” says Cynthia Cruz Sanchez, Dreaming Beyond Borders’ campus ambassador. “We speak on their behalf so they feel safe, and we work on equity and inclusion in higher education as new policies arise.”
Working closely with Here to Stay, OSU’s student club for undocumented, DACA-status and mixed-status-family immigrants, and the university’s seven Cultural Resource Centers, Dreaming Beyond Borders provides academic support services, financial aid guidance and a direct connection to immigrant community groups, cultural support networks and legal counsel, among other resources. As Dreaming Beyond Borders’ graduate teaching assistant Alin Lazaro-Ortiz put it, “We make sure students aren’t left without answers.”
“These students demonstrate incredible perseverance and resilience,” Cruz Sanchez says. “The least higher education institutions can do is match their level of commitment and work hard to make the system more accessible.”
To learn more about Dreaming Beyond Borders and how you can support the needs of undocumented, DACA-status and mixed-status students in Oregon, visit undocumented.oregonstate.edu.