‘National Dream University’ to Serve Undocumented Students
The new California-based “National Dream University” program will offer undocumented immigrant students the ability to study online for a labor studies certificate while awaiting passage of the Dream Act.
The one-year program is being offered by the University of California,Los Angeles, Center for Labor Research and Education and the National Labor College. It will launch in January 2013 and will cost $2,490.
While some states offer in-state tuition to undocumented immigrants, the majority do not and the high cost of a college education deters many young people from pursuing higher education.
UCLA labor center director Kent Wong told Inside Higher Ed that he hopes academics at other universities will pursue similar initiatives. ”I hope that this will encourage other faculty to get involved in ways to pressure their states and pressure the federal government to make changes so that these young people can receive the access to higher education which they need and which they deserve,” he said.
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On a similar note, after Georgia banned undocumented students from attending some state institutions, University of Georgia faculty members created Freedom University. The non-credit courses are offered for free to undocumented students.
It’s certainly a well-intentioned effort. But do you think these certificates will be that helpful to these students?
