By Annette Quijada
East Los Angeles College invited California State University, Los Angeles Dream Resource Center to speak to undocumented students about the transfer process on Thursday.
Laura Anaya Jurado, an ELAC transfer mentor, encourages undocumented students to continue their path for higher education. “Pursuing a bachelor’s degree can open up many more opportunities and it’s a great way to be an agent for change,” Jurado said.
Jurado said a majority of CSU and UC campuses have some form of undocumented student services center. She said it’s important for undocumented students to look for resources on campus.
Undocumented-friendly organizations like clubs, cultural centers and other various academic or social programs are some examples. Undocumented students who apply to California State Universities for the fall of 2022 need to file a California Dream Act Application between Oct. 1 and March 2. Students also need to make sure their GPA is submitted for a Cal Grant.
Once accepted to a CSU campus, students must submit a “statement of intent to register” at their intended campus. Students who applied for spring semester 2022 should now be getting in touch with the universities they applied to.
Students looking to transfer to a California State University have until Nov. 30 to submit applications. Melody Klingenfuss, coordinator at CSULA Dream Resource Center, said undocumented students looking to transfer to Cal State LA can expect to see legal services and programs similar to the ones ELAC provides such as the partnership with the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN).
Klingenfuss said it can be a culture shock when students transfer to a university that doesn’t have the same resources they are used to. “Here at the Cal State LA Dream Resource Center, we believe we have to support you personally, academically and professionally,” Klingenfuss said.
CARECEN’s College legal services are free legal services that are offered at eight CSU campuses for current students, faculty and family members, including alumni (up to two years). Their services include free consultations, advance parole family based petitions and special immigration protections for survivors of domestic violence.
Ana Hernandez, a CARECEN fellow, said that the program includes help with DACA renewals and initial applications. Hernandez said that the organization can help provide funds for students who can’t pay the $495 DACA processing fee.
Hernandez suggests students think about what resources they will need and take that into consideration when choosing a university to transfer to. Students who need a guide on the transfer process can visit https://www.calstate.edu/attend/transfer/Documents/transfer-academic-update-2020.pdf. Students who would like to experience one-on-one transfer counseling may book an appointment on the ELAC transfer website https://www.elac.edu/Student-Services/Transfer-Center.