California colleges reach consensus on interpretation of in-state tuition law for undocumented students

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Over 20 years ago, California implemented a law permitting some undocumented immigrant students to access college at in-state tuition rates, given they fulfill specific criteria.

Advocates for immigrant rights highlight that numerous eligible students have been wrongfully denied in-state tuition due to confusion, misinformation, and varied interpretations of the law across different college campuses.

Nancy Jodaitis, the director of higher education at Immigrants Rising, voiced concerns about the loss of valuable talent and declining college enrollments due to this issue.

Immigrants Rising facilitated a meeting involving representatives from California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California to address common questions about the law and reach consensus.

The outcome, a document named the Systemwide AB 540 FAQ, has been signed by all three systems and addresses 59 queries.

• If a student graduated from a California high school after completing three years of credits but did not attend for three years, are they eligible?
• Must a student be full-time to qualify for attendance requirements?
• Is completion of all coursework at the same institution necessary?

Representatives from UC, CSU, and California Community Colleges praised the collaborative effort behind the document.

Paul Feist, the vice chancellor of communications and marketing at the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, emphasized the importance of the FAQ in clarifying the complexities surrounding the nonresident tuition exemption laws.

Since the enactment of the initial legislation, Assembly Bill 540, in 2001, three subsequent bills in 2014, 2017, and 2022 have expanded the law, inadvertently making it more challenging to navigate.

Current California law allows undocumented students, DACA recipients, U.S. citizens, and permanent residents who meet specific education criteria to qualify for in-state tuition and state financial aid.

Access to state financial aid and in-state tuition is crucial for undocumented students, who are ineligible for federal aid and face exorbitant nonresident tuition fees.

College counselor Maria Gutierrez shared her personal experience of navigating the complexities of tuition eligibility requirements under AB 540 and how clarification is vital for colleges to provide accurate information to students.

Efforts to streamline the financial aid application process for undocumented students in California have been applauded, as exemplified by the integration of the AB 540 form into the California Dream Act application.

Diana Aguilar-Cruz highlighted the significance of this change, recounting her struggles with nonresident tuition fees before discovering the additional form required for in-state tuition.

This article has been updated to provide clarification on Maria Gutierrez’s immigration to the U.S. and the location of Chabot College.