The difference between Colorado ASSET and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)! Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Colorado ASSET are both public policies that affect our undocumented youth.! There is a lot of confusion about the differences between ASSET and DACA.! ASSET is a state law that only affects the price of attending a Colorado public higher education institution. It does not address other immigration issues. States do not have the authority to change federal immigration laws; they do have the power to pass laws that directly and/or indirectly affect the immigrant and undocumented populations within their state.! DACA is a federal policy change that has its own set of criteria set by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Department.! Students who qualify for ASSET do not automatically qualify for DACA, and vice versa. A student may qualify for one but not the other, qualify for both, or qualify for neither. Colorado ASSET: Colorado ASSET allows all qualified high school or GED graduates to attend a Colorado public college or university at the in- state tuition rate, regardless of immigration status, provided they can meet the following criteria: If a student graduated on or after Sept. 1, 2013 they must have: 1. Attended a Colorado high school for three years immediately before earning a high school diploma or GED in Colorado.! As long as a student attended six academic terms, not necessarily in three consecutive academic years, and then graduated or received a GED, the student would satisfy the high school requirement. (CDHE FAQ document)! ASCENT and/or Concurrent Enrollment programs are considered part of a student s high school program and may be counted toward the three- year academic residency requirement. 2. Been admitted (not enrolled) to a public college or university in Colorado within 12 months of graduating or earning a GED. 3. Completed the Colorado Opportunity Fund application, including the affidavit, stating that the student has applied for legal presence in the US or will apply for legal presence in the US as soon as they are able to do so. If a student graduated before September 1, 2013 they must have: 1. Attended a Colorado high school for three years immediately before earning a high school diploma or GED in Colorado. 2. Been admitted to a public college or university in Colorado. 3. Prove they have been physically present in Colorado for the last 18 months prior to enrollment, if the student did not enroll in a Colorado public college within 12 months of graduating high school. 4. Completed the Colorado Opportunity Fund application, including the affidavit, stating that the student has applied for legal presence in the US OR will apply for legal presence in the US as soon as they are able to do so. In order to receive the COF stipend, a student will also need a State Assigned Student Identifier (SASID), issued by a Colorado public school district.! In order to receive the COF stipend, a student will also need a State Assigned Student Identifier (SASID), issued by a Colorado public school district.
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: What is deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA)? On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several key guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal, and would then be eligible for work authorization. Individuals who can demonstrate through verifiable documentation that they meet these guidelines will be considered for deferred action. Determinations will be made on a case- by- case basis under the guidelines set forth in the Secretary of Homeland Security s memorandum You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you: 1. Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012; 2. Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday; 3. Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time; 4. Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS; 5. Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012; 6. Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or other equivalent State- authorized exam in the United States, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and 7. Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety. 8. Individuals can call the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800- 375-5283 with questions or to request more information on the deferred action for childhood arrivals process or visitwww.uscis.gov. -Taken from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services Frequently Asked Questions DACA and ASSET Undocumented students who attended high school in Colorado for fewer than three years, regardless of the time they have been physically present in the state, are not eligible to qualify for in- state tuition classification under ASSET. Students who have been granted DACA status may be eligible under existing in- state tuition criteria, depending on individual institution practices. If a student can provide documentation that he or she resides in Colorado and has acceptable evidence of domicile, such as a valid driver s licensure and/or social security number, the student may qualify for in- state tuition under existing tuition classification laws and policies. - Taken from the Colorado Department of Higher Education ASSET FAQ:
Resources for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals: Adams, A. D. (2012, 12 06). Deferred Action for "Dreamers": Advising DACA Students About Affording College. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators: http://www.nasfaa.org/advocacy/perspectives/articles/deferred_action_for Dreamers Advising_DACA_Students_Abo ut_affording_college.aspx Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition. (2012). www.coloradoimmigrant.org. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from Welcome to CO4DACA, Co,orado's one- stop deferred action resource page: http://www.coloradoimmigrant.org/downloads/aila%20co%20daca%20referral%20list%20- %20FINAL!%2010.1.12.pdf Department of Homeland Security. (2012). Deferred Action. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.dhs.gov: http://www.dhs.gov/deferred- action Educators for Fair Consideration. (2012). Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Resources. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.e4fc.org: http://www.e4fc.org/resources/deferredaction.html Federal Student Aid. (n.d.). Many non- U.S citizens qualify for deferal student aid. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from studentaid.ed.gov: http://studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility/non- us- citizens Immigration Equility. (2012). Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from Immigration Equality.org: http://immigrationequality.org/issues/immigration- basics/daca/ National Immigration Law Center. (2012). Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.nilc.org: http://www.nilc.org/dreamdeferred.html National Immigration Law Center. (2013, 03 05). FAQ: Deferred Action for Certian Immigrant Youth. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.nilc.org: http://www.nilc.org/faqdeferredactionyouth.html National Immigration Law Center. (2013, 9 25). Health Care & DACA Deferred Action. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.nilc.org: http://www.nilc.org/acadacafaq.html Own the DREAM. (2012). Requesting Deferred Action. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.weownthedream.org: http://www.weownthedream.org/deferred- action/ Rocky Mountian Immigrant Advocacy Network. (2012). Attorneys you may wish to contact related to "Deferred Action" status. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.rmian.org: http://www.rmian.org/storage/deferred%20action%20attorney%20list.pdf Rocky Mountian Immigrant Advocay Network. (2012). Children's Programs. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.rmian.org: http://www.rmian.org/childrens- program/ Rocky Mountian Immigrant Advocay Network. (2012). Know Your Rights: Juveniles & Immigration. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.rmian.org: http://www.rmian.org/storage/self- help- resources/kyr%20juveniles%20in%20ice%20custody- ENG.pdf Singer, A., & Prchal Svajlenka, N. (2013, 08 14). Immigration Facts: Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from Brookings: http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2013/08/14- daca- immigration- singer# Together Colorado. (2012). Deferred Action Resources. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.togethercolorado.org: http://www.togethercolorado.org/documents/deferred- Action- Resources.pdf U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services. (2013, 01 18). Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved 12 24, 2013, from www.uscis.gov: http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration- deferred- action- childhood- arrivals- process/frequently- asked- questions
www.ciccoloradoasset.org I think I am Eligible for Colorado ASSET Now What? FIRST STEP: APPLY AND GET ACCEPTED TO THE PUBLIC COLLEGE YOU WISH TO ATTEND! Colorado ASSET will only affect the public colleges and universities in Colorado. For a full listing of affected institutions please visit www.coloradoasset.com/colleges/.! Go through that college s application process. The application process for ASSET students will be the same as all other students. For more help with this process please visit www/ciccollegeappmonth.org.! Some colleges many require you to fill out an ASSET Supplemental Application. College counselors are also great resources for students who need help with the college application process. Talk to your current/former high school counselor and/or refer to an admissions advisor at the higher education institution you wish to apply to. SECOND STEP: SUBMIT REQUIRED PAPERWORK AND COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY! The college is the ultimate decider on if you are eligible for ASSET.! Make sure to respond to any follow- up emails for additional information quickly.! Failure to provide all required information could result in an out- of- state classification and higher tuition. Not sure who to contact? Please contact Blanca E. Trejo blanca.trejo@cic.state.co.us Cell: 720-227- 2072 THIRD STEP: apply for the COF The College Opportunity Fund! You can fill out the paper applicationor apply online https://cof.college- assist.org/.! Once you are accepted into an institution, you will have to authorize the COF at the beginning of each term, or do a lifetime authorization (which most institutions offer). Colorado ASSET Next Steps Revised April 17, 2014
Colorado ASSET www.ciccoloradoasset.org Colorado ASSET will allow all qualified high school or GED graduates to attend a public Colorado college or university at the in- state tuition rate, regardless of immigration status, provided they can meet the following criteria:! If a student graduated on or after Sept. 1, 2013 they must have: 1. Attended a Colorado high school for 3 years immediately before earning a high school diploma or GED in Colorado.! As long as a student attended 6 academic terms, not necessarily in 3 consecutive academic years and then graduated or received a GED the student would satisfy the high school requirement. (CDHE FAQ document)! ASCENT and/or Concurrent Enrollment programs are considered part of a student s high school program and may be counted toward the 3 year academic residency requirement. 2. Been admitted (not enrolled) to a Colorado state- funded college within 12 months of graduating or earning a GED. 3. Complete the Colorado Opportunity Fund application, including the Affidavit, stating that the student has applied for legal presence in the US OR will apply for legal presence in the US as soon as they are able to do so.! In order to receive the COF stipend, a student will also need a State Assigned Student Identifier (SASID), issued by a Colorado public school district.! If a student graduated before September 1, 2013 they must have: 1. Attended a Colorado high school for 3 years immediately before earning a high school diploma or GED in Colorado. 2. Been admitted to a Colorado state- funded college. 3. If the student did not enroll in a Colorado state- funded college within 12 months of graduating high school they will have to prove they have been physically present in Colorado for the last 18 months prior to enrollment. 4. Complete the Colorado Opportunity Fund application, including the Affidavit, stating that the student has applied for legal presence in the US OR will apply for legal presence in the US as soon as they are able to do so. a. In order to receive the COF stipend, a student will also need a State Assigned Student Identifier (SASID), issued by a Colorado public school district. College In Colorado - - Colorado ASSET FAQs Revised February 6, 2014
One of the requirements of ASSET is that students who are not legally present in the United States must sign an affidavit saying they are currently seeking legal status or will seek it as soon as they are eligible. Where is this affidavit? The Colorado Department of Higher Education has integrated the affidavit with the College Opportunity Fund (COF) application. You will fill this application out one time and along with it the affidavit. The COF website is https://cof.college- assist.org/ DACA students are cautioned against using their DACA Social Security Number on the COF form. How can a student document 18 months of physical presence in Colorado? The following are examples of what a student may be able provide. Please check with your college/university regarding the specific forms of documentation that they require.! Rent receipts, utility bills, receipts or letters from companies showing the dates during which you received service;! Employment records or, if you are self- employed, letters from banks and other firms with whom you have done business;! School records from the schools that you have attended in the United States, showing the name(s) of the schools and periods of school attendance;! Military records! Hospital or medical records concerning treatment or hospitalization, showing the name of the medical facility or physician and the date(s) of the treatment or hospitalization;! Official records from a religious entity in the United States confirming your participation in a religious ceremony, rite, or passage (e.g., baptism, first communion, wedding);! Money order receipts for money sent in or out of the country; dated bank transactions; U.S. Social Security card; automobile license receipts, title, vehicle registration, etc.; deeds, mortgages, rental agreements; tax receipts; insurance policies; receipts; postmarked letters. What if the student didn t attend three years at a Colorado High School? Students who did not attend at least three years at a Colorado High School are not eligible for ASSET. But, students who have been granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status MAY BE eligible under existing in- state tuition criteria depending on individual institution practices. If a student can provide documentation that he or she resides in Colorado and has acceptable evidence of domicile, such as a valid driver s license and/or social security number, the student may qualify for in- state tuition under existing tuition classification laws and policies. Will ASSET students at COF participating non- profit private institutions (Regis, DU, and Colorado Christian University) be eligible for COF in the same way that other resident students are eligible? No. Under current law all students attending non- profit private institutions must qualify as Pell eligible in order to receive COF. Federal law does not extend Pell eligibility to undocumented students. College In Colorado - - Colorado ASSET FAQs Revised February 6, 2014
Are ASSET students eligible for state or federal financial aid?! ASSET students are not eligible for federal or state funded financial aid:! Pell Grants! Work Study (government funded)! State Merit Aid, Loans, or scholarships! Federal Merit Aid, Loans or scholarships! ASSET does not make a student eligible for other benefits offered by the state or federal government. What forms of Financial Aid are ASSET students are eligible to apply for?! Scholarships and other financial aid that is generated from each individual school s funds or private beneficiaries donating money to individual schools where US or Colorado residency is not required.! Private scholarships outside of the higher education institution. For more information on scholarships, regardless of immigration status please visit www.coloradoasset.com! Crowd funding and/or other forms of private fund raising.! DACA recipients are eligible for hourly- wage jobs created by individual institutions (not work- study).! Private loans. Students and families are strongly encouraged to research the terms and conditions of private education loans and fully understand the interest rates, fees and re- payment requirements prior to taking out these loans. Are ASSET and/or DACA Students still required to fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)? In order to qualify for certain types of need- based institutional aid, students may be asked by their institution to provide family income information. Each institution will have their own process for determining need eligibility, including the completion of the FAFSA form or a form with similar questions. Please contact the Financial Aid office of each institution to determine their requirements and process. Do Colorado colleges and universities have to verify lawful presence of applicants? No, ASSET strikes the language that requires institutions of higher education to verify lawful presence for any person who applies for educational services or benefits from state institutions of higher education, including participation in the Colorado Opportunity Fund, college savings plans, and other aid relating to attendance at the institution. College In Colorado - - Colorado ASSET FAQs Revised February 6, 2014
Colorado Public Institutions Public 4- year Colleges and Universities Adams State University www.adams.edu Colorado Mesa University www.mesastate.edu Colorado School of Mines www.mines.edu Colorado State University Fort Collins www.colostate.edu Colorado State University Global Campus - www.csuglobal.org Colorado State University Pueblo www.colostate- pueblo.edu Fort Lewis College www.fortlewis.edu Metro State University Of Denver www.mscd.edu University of Colorado Boulder www.colorado.edu University of Colorado Colorado Springs www.uccs.edu University of Colorado Denver (Downtown) www.ucdenver.edu University of Colorado Denver (Anschutz Medical Campus) www.uchsc.edu University of Northern Colorado www.unco.edu Western State Colorado University www.western.edu Public 2- year and Community College System Office www.cccs.edu Arapahoe Community College www.arapahoe.edu Colorado Northwestern Community College www.cncc.edu Community College of Aurora www.ccaurora.edu Community College of Denver www.ccd.edu Front Range Community College www.frontrange.edu Lamar Community College www.lamarcc.edu Morgan Community College www.morgancc.edu Northeastern Junior College www.njc.edu Otero Junior College www.ojc.edu Pikes Peak Community College www.ppcc.edu Pueblo Community College www.pueblocc.edu Red Rocks Community College www.rrcc.edu Trinidad State Junior College www.trinidadstate.edu Public Local District Community Colleges Aims Community College www.aims.edu Colorado Mountain College www.coloradomtn.edu Public Area Technical Colleges Emily Griffith Technical College www.egos- school.com Pickens Technical College www.pickenstech.org Delta- Montrose Technical College www.dmtc.edu For further resources on Colorado ASSET please contact Blanca E. Trejo blanca.trejo@cic.state.co.us Cell: 720-988- 4628 College In Colorado - - Colorado ASSET FAQs Revised February 6, 2014
Colorado ASSET www.ciccoloradoasset.org. I graduated or earned my GED before Sept. 1st 2013. Did you graduate high school or earn your GED on or after September 1st, 2013? START HERE Are you eligible? Did you attend a Colorado High School for three years or more? YES You are not eligible under Colroado ASSET. If you have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, some colleges/ universities may still allow you to pay in-state tuition. Have you been physically present in Colorado for the last 18 months? YES Did you or will you be accepted to a Colorado public college or YES university within 12 months of graduating or earning your GED? You should be eligible for in-state tuition and the College Opportunity Fund under the 2013 Colorado ASSET law. Apply to a public college. The college will be the final decision makers of your eligibility. You will need to provide proof of physical presence in Colorado for the You must be able to provide proof of physical presence in Colorado for 18 months prior to the first day of enrollment to the college you wish to attend. YES You should be eligible for in-state tuition and the College Opportunity Fund under the 2013 Colorado ASSET law. The college will be the final decision makers of your eligibility. past 18 months
Colorado ASSET www.ciccoloradoasset.org Si. Me gradué u obtuve mi certificado de equivalencia de la preparatoria antes del 1ero de Septiembre, 2013. Ha estado ud. presente físicamente en Colorado los últimos 18 meses? Ud. debe ser elegible para que se le cobre colegiatura estatal y para recibir la paga del Fondo de Oportunidad Universitaria bajo la ley de Colorado ASSET del 2013. Solicite ingreso a un colegio o universidad pública. El colegio o universidad tomará la decisión definitiva acerca de su elegibilidad. Ud. necesitará suministrar prueba de su presencia física en Colorado los pasados 18 meses. Se graduó u obtuvo ud. su certificado de equivalencia de la preparatoria el 1ero de Septiembre, 2013 o después? EMPIEZE AQUI Si Ud. deberá poder suministrar prueba de su presencia física en Colorado los 18 meses anteriores al primer día de matriculación en la universidad o colegio donde ud. desea asistir. Es ud. elegible? Asistió ud. a una preparatoria en Colorado tres años o más? Fué o será ud. aceptado en un colegio comunitario o universidad pública dentro de los 12 meses siguientes a su graduación u obtención del certificado de equivalencia de la preparatoria (GED por su nombre en inglés)? Si Si Ud. no es elegible bajo Colorado ASSET. Si ud. tiene estatus de Acción Diferida (DACA por su sigla en inglés) algunos colegios y universidades podrían permitirle a ud. pagar colegiatura estatal. Ud. debe ser elegible para que se le cobre colegiatura estatal y para recibir la paga del Fondo de Oportunidad Universitaria bajo la ley de Colorado ASSET del 2013. El colegio o universidad tomará la decisión definitiva acerca de su elegibilidad.