Dream Resource Centers and the Integration of Undocumented Students at Southern Californian Colleges

• In Event: 4412 - Section on Latino/a Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 03. Latina/o/xs and Education

Abstract

An estimated 65,000-80,000 undocumented youth graduate from high school every year, yet only 10,000 graduate from college. More increasingly, Southern Californian colleges & universities have institutionalized on campus Dream Resource Centers (DRCs) to support undocumented student populations. While universities are claiming to be leaders in diversity by doing so, it is not known if they are truly meeting the needs of their undocumented students at their campuses. While literature has centered on the challenging experiences of undocumented students at their college institutions, no research has examined the role of institutional support in the integration of this population in higher education. I employ multiple qualitative methods, including observation and in-depth interviews to compare three DRC cases (community college, state college, and UC) at public colleges & universities. Through the lens of social capital theory, I argue that Dream Resource Centers provide undocumented students with social networks and academic resources necessary for their integration at their college campus. In addition, interaction between DRCs and undocumented students vary depending on organizational features of the university (i.e. commuter nature). This research holds critical implications for immigrant incorporation and life in the US.

Author

• Karina Santellano, University of Southern California