Ally Zone: A Higher Education Resource Guide Designed to Aid Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Resident Students Attending San Diego State University

The present political discourse surrounding immigration has propelled the issue of access to education for undocumented students in the United States. There are nearly 11.2 million people without lawful immigration residency in the United States with 2.5 million in California alone. In 2011, California Assembly Bills 130 and 131 were signed by Governor Jerry Brown allowing AB-540 student’s eligibility to receive state and federal grants and scholarships which will affect hundreds of thousands of AB540 students pursuing their education in California. Research shows that student success is largely determined by the support they receive from their college and social networks; it is important to further understand how this population of students participate and are received in the networks they find themselves in. Undocumented students live in constant distress of their status being disclosed and despite their educational success their dreams, academic and professional endeavors often seem unattainable.

My research will create a resource guide where AB540 students can find support and resources within their college and community to assist them in their academic goals. I will analyze student’s experiences and explore San Diego State University’s (SDSU) role in supporting the AB540 student population. I will conduct a mixed method research to analyze data from students attending SDSU. The outcomes derived from triangulated qualitative and quantitative approaches will assess how undocumented students consistently negotiate their lives on and off campus. AB540 advocates, those against AB540, and educational institutions will benefit from this research by continuing the dialogue in this pertinent issue.