Oasis in the Desert: Institutional Apathy and the Role of Dream Centers in California's Central Valley

• In Event: Immigrant Education and English Learners: Policy and Praxis

Abstract

California’s public systems of higher education are some of the most inclusive of undocumented students. However, students in California’s Central Valley continue to experience significant barriers that impede a college education. This qualitative work utilizes Policy Vagueness and Implementation Burden (Neinhusser, 2018) as frameworks to explore findings which indicate that students regularly receive misinformation about enrollment eligibility and experience microaggressions from institutional agents. This work also finds that Dream Centers (DCs) play a critical role in mitigating that negative impact. DCs provide guidance, a sense of protection and community, and peer mentoring to students which they see as unique and imperative in their college experience.

Authors

• Luis Fernando Macias, California State University - Fresno

• Susana Hernandez, California State University - Fresno

• Gabriela Encinas, California State University - Fresno