Dream Center Annual Report 2021-2022

I. MISSION STATEMENT

The Chico State Dream Center serves as a student success and resource center for the hundreds of undocumented students currently enrolled, as well as, other students from mixed-status immigrant families. We advocate for, and facilitate, equitable access to educational opportunities; and support student success and well-being in a welcoming, safe, and supportive environment.

Department Goals

• The Dream Center will inform and educate the campus community about policy updates, program services, and diverse academic and personal needs of dreamer students (University Strategic Priority 1)
• The Dream Center will promote and enhance access to inclusive and equitable academic, career, and community service opportunities through collaborative relationships with student support services to reduce academic and financial barriers (University Strategic Priority 1,2)
• The Dream Center staff will maintain currency in the field of immigration policies and court cases through CSU statewide trainings, webinars, and professional development opportunities (University Strategic Priority 1,2)
• The Dream Center will serve the immigration services needs of the campus community and their family members to continuously support the success of their academic and personal lives (University Strategic Priority 1)

DEPARTMENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Successfully recruited and hired 5 student employees, including receptionists and interns, to further support program needs
• Successfully hired and onboarded the Dream Center’s coordinator as a Student Services Professional (SSPII)
• Compiled and generated lists pertaining to housing, scholarships, and internships that do not require proof of citizenship or provide an alternative to a co-signer
• Participated in recruitment events such as Choose Chico, resource fairs, and Steps to College that was hosted by the Mexican Consulate. Participated in Giving Day and raised over $2,200.
• Continued partnership with immigration legal services provider, The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), to provide free services to Chico State students, staff, faculty, alumni, and immediate family members
• Executed three legal services campus and community wide webinars on topics such as: overview of student legal services, DACA and advance parole, and freedom of information act
• Attended CSU and California Community College system wide trainings pertaining to AB 540, residency, visa’s, and special immigrant juvenile status
• The Dream Center transitioned into being overseen by the Director of Early Outreach and Support Programs. In the same semester, the Dream Center celebrated the 5-year anniversary of their establishment on campus
• Dream Center professional and student staff were highlighted on Action News Now after speaking on the benefits of the Californian’s for All College Corps program on Chico State AB 540 students
• Provided textbook grants and lending for 19 students
• Continued supporting students and prospective students through 1 on 1 communication and referrals
• Emailed bi-weekly and monthly newsletter to over 120 students on listserv. Students are notified of upcoming webinars, workshops, resources, external legal services available, scholarship opportunities, and East Wing services available.
• The Dream Center sought and secured grants in the total of $15,600 and this amount matched the university’s stateside allocation for operating expenses dollar-for-dollar

Highlights

Textbook funding: The Dream Center secured a grant to fund textbook, calculator, or laboratory materials to Chico State undocumented students who have demonstrated unmet financial need. A total of 19 students benefited from the textbook grant and received paperback textbooks, e-books, book access codes, and school materials. On average, grants awarded were $171 per participant. Textbook funding will continue into the Fall 2022 semester for incoming and returning undocumented students.

Partnership with Legal Services Provider: In the past, CHIRLA provided in-person services and with COVID-19, services were transitioned virtually. Not all students respond to virtual services in the same way. It can be overwhelming and frightening to disclose their status and not know who is one the other end of the zoom call. As a result, bi-weekly meetings were scheduled between the coordinator and the CHIRLA liaison. One of the ways to promote legal services and the team was to highlight each attorney on social media with a biography that included their background information and their passion for serving students and the immigrant community. This was extremely helpful because it eased some of the student’s hesitation in scheduling appointment and they were able to see a picture of who they would possibly be meeting with.

In collaboration with CHIRLA, the Dream Center hosted three campus and community wide webinars to promote and increase services provided. Webinar topics included an overview of student legal services, DACA, advance parole, and the freedom of information act. The total attendance for the three webinars were 21 students and staff. 66% of attendees were students and 33% were staff, with 85% of all attendees identifying as Hispanic or Latinx. All webinars were conducted in webinar style to maintain the confidentiality of all participants.

Continuing to Support Students 1 on 1: With the hiring and onboarding of a full-time coordinator, the number of students utilizing the center increased. This was also a result of hiring student receptionists and interns that would greet all students and remind them to sign-in. The continuation of supporting students fluctuated with the presence of a dedicated Dream Center staff member available for walk-ins and scheduled appointments. Services included, but not limited to: academic advising, textbook funding, California Dream Act Service Incentive Grant information, scholarship opportunities and application assistance, check-ins (academic, health, wellness, life outside college), general center information, legal services referrals, employment, career, financial aid, and referrals to East Wing and campus departments. A total of 59 students were seen between January – May 2022. 77% of the 1 on 1’s was on a walk-in basis and 23% were virtual or over the phone.

Diversity Efforts

• Translated and printed outreach flyers in Spanish to reach our diverse student and parent population
• Hired student employees that reflect the diversity of our students
• Participated in hiring biases and safe zone ally campus trainings
• Incorporated bilingual conversations during student led workshops
• Chicano Latino Council

CHANGES IN POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
N/A

RESOURCES SUMMARY

Resource Allocation:
EOP General Fund Budget Allocation 21/22 - $67,076.64
Encumbered rollover 21/22 - $0.00
Work Study allocation 21/22 (DRMC only) -  $3,500.00

Total Allocation -  $70,576.64
Annual Expense + Encumbered - ($61,306.40)
Unused Work Study -  ($567.36)
DRMC General Fund Balance -  $8,702.88

NOTE: The remaining balance was due to salary savings.

Human Resources

• Hired the Dream Center’s Student Services Professional (SSPII) to serve as the coordinator. This is the Dream Center’s first designated professional since the center’s establishment in 2017. The SSPII was initially hired on a 10/12 pay plan in January and increased time base in March to 12/12 employee. 

Facilities/Equipment

• The Dream Center is currently in a shared space with PATH Scholars. The two programs will share a combined space with new furniture that will include a lounge area, computer lab, study area, and new reception desk.
• Although the Dream Center is in a shared space, space allocation is crucial for confidentiality purposes and to best meet the needs of the hundreds of Dreamers at Chico State.

PROGRAM ASSESSMENT OF PAST YEAR

Program Objectives for 2021-2022

• With the onboarding of the SSPII coordinator in January of 2022, this is the first annual report that is completed by the Dream Center.

Ongoing Assessment Efforts

Service Usage Summary

*Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Spring 2021: Incomplete data due to COVID-19 campus closure

*Services provided include DACA renewals and assistance with USCIS forms

VI. ANALYSIS

• Visits to the Dream Center have increased with the presence of student receptionists staffing the front desk and reminding students to sign in. However, the front desk was staffed 75% of the time, meaning that the number of sign-ins does not accurately reflect visits to the center. The addition of a student receptionist in the upcoming academic year should mitigate this challenge.
• This year was successful in incorporating legal services webinars that were presented by CHIRLA. Although the total attendance for all three webinars was 21 participants, not all registered participants joined and others were unable to attend overall. Moving forward, an ongoing established relationship between the SSPII and students will lead into student interest topics and as a result, increased attendance. As in-person services are sought, the Dream Center will give opportunity for in-person interactions between CHIRLA and students.
• The Dream Center needs to focus more on life-after-college and discuss what that means for undocumented students who are not DACA recipients. We can partner with the Career Center and ADELANTE! Program to discuss graduate school and entrepreneurship options.
• Data presented in this report is quantitative and collected from Qualtrics spreadsheets. In order to improve services and meet student needs, confidential qualitive data needs to be collected. We need to focus on capturing the student perspective and needs yet collect data in a safe and confidential way.
• After a successful year of the textbook fund grant, the Dream Center will continue to seek and obtain supplemental funds such as the Student Learning Fee fund. However, the Dream Center’s operating expenses budget is on a one-time basis and have never had a base allocation for operating expenses. This is crucial to continue to support the success of undocumented students and success of the center that include student assistants, web services, printing, supplies, etc.

VII. PROGRAM OBJECTIVES FOR 2022-2023

1. The Dream Center aims to increase the utilization of legal services from our currently enrolled students and staff by providing a minimum of three legal services webinars and one DACA clinic every semester in virtual and in-person modalities.
2. The Dream Center will focus on continuing professional development for faculty and staff by providing at minimum one Dreamer Ally training in the academic year through collaborating with campus partners and the legal services provider.
3. The Dream Center will continue progress towards intentional programming on post-graduation academic and entrepreneurship opportunities by hosting a minimum of two workshops facilitated by campus and external partners each semester in the academic year.