Sanctuary in Practice: Symbolic Educational Policy in the Trump Era

• In Event: 77.049 - Undocumented and DACAmented in the Trump Era

Abstract

This qualitative pilot study examines the interpretation and implementation of a sanctuary campus policy by faculty and staff at a selective liberal arts college. Drawing on theories of symbolic politics and the dynamic relationship between educational policy and practice, the authors analyze policy texts, interview transcripts, and undocumented students’ responses to an anonymous questionnaire to understand how a sanctuary campus policy functions in practice. They find that in spite of the sanctuary policy’s limited technical scope, institutional agents have interpreted it as a commitment to providing full inclusion for undocumented students. This commitment has led to both programmatic and interpersonal action, which in turn have helped students to cope with various status-related challenges.

Authors

• Elaine Cristina Allard, Swarthmore College

• Jonathan Hamel Sellman, Swarthmore College