Persisting Inequalities and Paths Forward: A Report on the State of Undocumented Students in California’s Public Universities
Over the past two decades, California has opened the halls of higher education to undocumented youth. State policies and institutional practices have steadily increased their numbers, and California now hosts one in five of the nation’s undocumented college students. But how are these students faring once they arrive on campus?
This report takes stock of the experiences of undocumented college students attending California’s two public university systems: the California State University and the University of California. Based on survey responses from nearly 1,300 undergraduate students during spring 2020, it powerfully illustrates how undocumented immigration status disrupts college students’ educational experiences and wellbeing. It offers specific steps that educational institutions can take to combat persisting inequalities and forge pathways toward equity and inclusion.
Download the executive summary in English and Spanish.
On Thursday, December 10, 2020 from 12-1pm PST, we hosted a virtual briefing to offer in-depth coverage of the findings and a discussion of what stakeholders need to know to advance equity and inclusion for undocumented students.
View the recording here.
Speakers include:
- Laura E. Enriquez, Associate Professor of Chicano/Latino Studies at UC Irvine
- Karina Chavarria, Assistant Professor of Sociology at CSU Channel Islands
- Melissa J. Hagan, Assistant Professor of Psychology at San Francisco State University
- Jennifer Nájera, Associate Professor and Chair of Ethnic Studies at UC Riverside
- Annie Ro, Associate Professor of Public Health at UC Irvine
- William E. Rosales, Assistant Professor of Sociology at CSU Los Angeles
- Heidy Sarabia, Associate Professor of Sociology at Sacramento State University
- Zulema Valdez, Associate Vice Provost for the Faculty and Professor of Sociology at UC Merced
Media Coverage:
UCI School of Social Sciences, “The State of Undocumented Students in California’s Public Universities”
Insider Higher Education, “Survey Spotlights Undocumented Student Experiences, Needs”
Los Angeles Times, Times OC, “UC Irvine-led study reveals nuance to the experiences of undocumented students across California”
CSU Fullerton, “How Undocumented Students are Faring in California’s Public Universities”
About Us:
The UC Collaborative to Promote Immigrant and Student Equity (UC PromISE) is a multicampus initiative at the University of California that conducts research with the goal of informing policies and practices that will advance equity and inclusion for undocumented and immigrant-origin students.
The Undocumented Student Equity Project (USEP) is a collaborative effort dedicated to conducting rigorous empirical research to inform institutional policies and practices that will advance equity and inclusion for undocumented students.