Supporting Undocumented & Mixed-Status Students

At San José State University, we believe that all students, regardless of their immigration status, deserve access to a safe, supportive, and empowering educational environment. As faculty and staff, you have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by creating inclusive, supportive environments across campus.

This page serves as a resource hub for faculty, advisors, and staff seeking to better understand the experiences of undocumented and mixed-status students and access practical tools to support their success and well-being. Whether you're looking for quick actions you can take, training opportunities, or deeper learning, this page is designed to help you take informed, compassionate steps in your role.

5 Actions Faculty & Advisors Can Take [pdf]

Resources for Educators

• Legal & Policy Basics

  • State and Federal Policies:

    • California - Policies and Data on Immigrant Students California is classified as a Comprehensive Access state in terms of inclusive in-state tuition and state financial aid policies for undocumented students. The Higher Ed Immigration Portal tracts state policies for undocumented students on in-state tuition, state financial aid, professional and occupational licensure, and driver licenses.

    • Guidance and Model Policies to Assist California's Colleges and Universities [pdf]︱CA Attorney General

    • Institutional Guidance: Licensure︱Pre Health Dreamers

    • Financial Aid for Undocumented Students︱California State University

    • FAFSA Eligibility for Non-U.S. Citizens︱studentaid.gov

    • Frequently Asked Questions: California Department of Justice (DOJ) Background Checks and Undocumented Students in California Higher Education [pdf]︱ Campaign for College Opportunity

    • Higher Education for Immigrant Students︱National Immigration Law Center

    Data Privacy & Security

    • Guidance for Higher Education on Immigrant Student Privacy and FERPA︱Higher Ed Immigration Portal

    • 10 Practices to Safeguard Undocumented Student Data in Higher Education︱Higher Ed Immigration Portal

    • Understanding the Difference: In-state Tuition vs CA Dream Act vs DACA︱Immigrants Rising

    • Glossary of Common Legal Terms︱Immigrants Rising

• Expanding Educational Opportunities & Institutional Support

  • • Creating Fellowships and Other Non-Employment Based Opportunities for Undocumented Students︱Higher Ed Immigration Portal

    • FAQ on Experiential and Funding Opportunities for Undocumented Students [pdf] ︱Higher Ed Immigration Portal

    • Professional Development Resources for Undocumented Students: Explore resources designed to empower undocumented students in their academic and professional journey, including information on state policies, licensing, background checks, income options, and resume building. Check back for updates.

• Inclusive Teaching & Migration Education

  • • Creating Inclusive Systems of Support for our High School Immigrant, Refugee, and Undocumented Students: This toolkit is designed for educators to provide inclusive systems of support for undocumented, immigrant, and refugee students and families with clear and highly practical models. Created in collaboration with educators from Santa Clara County. 

    • UndocuSpartan Essential Readings: This resource provides essential readings and data on immigration, undocumented students, and their experiences in higher education, covering topics like policy, institutional support, financial aid, mental health, academic engagement, and diversity.︱UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center

    • Re-Imagining Migration leverages schools and other educational spaces to promote knowledge, understanding, and lifelong habits of mind among immigrant and non-immigrant youth in a world of migration and demographic change.

    • Family Engagement Resource Hub: Empowering educators to build asset-based, authentic collaborations with immigrant students and their families.︱The Immigrant Learning Center

    • Immigration Research Guides: Comprehensive resource designed to support research and education on immigration-related topics. It offers a curated selection of materials, including books, articles, statistics, policies, laws, and multimedia resources, to provide a multifaceted understanding of immigration issues︱Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library at San José State University

• Training and Professional Development for Educators

  • • CSULearn Trainings to Support the Undocumented Community (download the flier [pdf])

     *NEW* CSU Guide to Supporting Our Undocumented Community: provides guidance to students staff and employees on responding to immigration enforcement and offers strategies to foster a supportive and safe campus environment for immigrant and undocumented communities. 

    Becoming an Ally to the Undocumented Community: This training aims to identify, educate, and support allies by creating awareness of the current laws and legislation surrounding the undocumented student population and mixed-status families.

    • Promoting Immigrant Student Mental Health and Well-being [On-Demand Virtual Training] ︱The Immigrant Learning Center

    • UNDOCU Advising: Working with DACA, Undocumented, and DREAM Students︱NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising 

    • Undocumented Immigrants and Allies Knowledge Group︱NASPA Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education

    • Stronger Together: Engaging Immigrant Families for Student Success [On-Demand Virtual Training]: Family involvement is crucial for student achievement, but immigrant families frequently encounter obstacles such as language barriers, cultural differences, and unfamiliarity with school systems. This webinar focuses on effective, culturally aware approaches to build stronger partnerships between schools and immigrant families.︱The Immigrant Learning Center

    • Communication Principles for Supporting Undocumented Students and Mixed Status Families: This  resource is designed to help higher education practitioners refine their language and communication strategies.︱Immigrants Rising
    

    • Support for Immigrant & Refugee Students: This project began in 2017 as a response to growing hostility toward immigrants and shifting policies. Its mission is to help create inclusive, secure learning spaces for all students and to provide support specifically for immigrant students across California's Pre K–12 schools.︱Californians Together

    • Webinar Archives︱Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration

Get the latest tools and updates to support undocumented and mixed-status students by signing up for our UndocuAdvocate Newsletter.