SUPPORT the STUDENT ACCESS BILL SB2196 Martinez-Mcguire

SUPPORT THE STUDENT ACCESS BILL

SB2196 Martinez -M cGu ire -St ean s-San d o v al-Hast in gs Provide Equal A ccess t o Financial Aid at 4 -Year Public Universities

The Student ACCESS bill will provide legal authority to 4-year public universities in Illinois to provide financial aid to undocumented students who enroll at their institutions. Undocumented students are currently ineligible to receive federal student aid, Pell grants, Illinois’ MAP grant and other forms of state-based financial aid. However, federal law allows individual state legislatures to offer undocumented students eligibility for state financial aid. Passage of the Student ACCESS bill would allow 4-year public universities to offer financial aid to every student enrolled at their institution on a competitive basis. The legislation will not, however, make undocumented students eligible to apply for the MAP grant.

The Student ACCESS bill is revenue neutral! The legislation does not have a fiscal impact because it does not require the state to appropriate additional resources for higher education or increase spending for state-funded scholarship programs. The bill simply provides 4-year public universities the legal authority to offer financial aid to undocumented students. The legislation does not create an entitlement, a new state scholarship program or provide undocumented students with a competitive advantage when applying for financial aid.

How many students would this apply to? The University of Illinois at Chicago estimates that the Student ACCESS bill would provide new scholarship opportunities for roughly 1,500 students across all 4-year public universities in Illinois.

Doesn’t the Illinois Dream Fund provide financial aid? Undocumented students currently have access to in-state tuition and they may apply for scholarships provided by the privately funded Illinois Dream Fund. In 2014, 1,720 students applied for a scholarship through the Illinois Dream Fund. However, the Illinois Dream Fund was only able to award 26 students a scholarship ranging from $2,000-$6,000. Over the last three years, the program has been unable to assist 98 percent of applicants due to insufficient private resources.

Which other states have similar laws? California, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas and Washington have enacted similar pieces of legislation. Data suggests that providing in-state tuition and access to financial aid increases the high school graduation and college enrollment rates of undocumented students.1

Why should I support the Student ACCESS Bill? Many college students depend on some form of financial aid in order to complete their education. Students who work long hours or multiple jobs find it harder to succeed and complete their degrees. The state has already invested considerable resources in the primary and secondary education of undocumented students. Providing access to financial aid will help students complete their degrees, enter the workforce and ensure Illinois secures a return on its investment.

1 Educators for Fair Consideration, “The Case for Undocumented Students in Higher Education.”

Public Supporters of the Student ACCESS Bill

HIGHER EDUCATION BUSINESS & CIVIC LEADERS Illinois Association for College Admission Chicago State University Dave Bender, Exec. Director, American Counseling (IACAC) DePaul University Council of Engineering Companies of IL Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Eastern Illinois University C.W. Chan, Chairman, Coalition for a Rights Governors State University Better Chinese American Community Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education Illinois State University Omar Duque, President/CEO, Illinois Hispanic Instituto del Progresso Latino Northeastern Illinois University Chamber of Commerce Interfaith Leadership Project Northern Illinois University Billy Lawless, Board Member, Illinois Japanese American Service Committee Southern Illinois University Restaurant Association Kenwood Oakland Community Organization University of Illinois Max Levchin, Founder, PayPal; Founder & Korean American Community Services Western Illinois University CEO, Affirm Korean American Resource and Cultural John Rowe, Co-Chair, Illinois Business Center STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS Immigration Coalition; Chairman Emeritus, Latin@ Youth Action League Black Graduate Student Association (UIUC) Exelon Latino Policy Forum Coalition for Accessible Scholarships for Jesse Ruiz, Partner, Drinker Biddle & Reath Latino Resources Everyone (UIUC) LLP Latinos Progresando Dream Action NIU Sam Scott, Chairman, Chicago Sister Cities; Logan Square Neighborhood Association Dreamers and Allies Student Organization Former CEO, Corn Products International Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (Arrupe College) Darryl Tom, President, Chicago Chinatown MALDEF Midwest Regional Office Fearless Undocumented Alliance (UIC) Chamber of Commerce National Association for College Admission Hispanic Student Dental Association (UIC) Counseling (NACAC) Latino Educators United for Change- FAITH-BASED LEADERS & National Council of Jewish Women – Chicago LUCHA (UIC) ORGANIZATIONS North Shore Latino/a Studies Graduate Student Catholic Conference of Illinois National Council of Jewish Women – Illinois Organization (UIUC) Father Jose Santiago, Pastor, St. Pius V State Policy Advocacy Network Mexican Students de Aztlán (UIC) Church National Museum of Mexican Art Movimiento Latino (UIC) Illinois Hispanic Pastors Association National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Philippine Student Association (UIUC) John Paul ll Newman Center at UIC Culture Students for Justice in Palestine (UIC) Lutheran Advocacy - Illinois National Partnership for New Americans Undocumented Resilient and Organized NONPROFITS & ASSOCIATIONS Organized Communities Against Deportations (NEIU) Advance Illinois Ounce of Prevention Fund Undocumented Students and Allies (IIT) Alianza Americas P.A.S.O.-West Suburban Action Project Union for Puerto Rican Students (UIC) Alivio Medical Center Planetaxlive United Students Against Sweatshops (UIC) Alliance of Filipinos for Immigrant Rights and Puerto Rican Arts Alliance PUBLIC OFFICIALS Empowerment Puerto Rican Cultural Center Former Governor Jim Edgar Arab American Action Network Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Chicago Law Chicago City Clerk Susana Mendoza Brighton Park Neighborhood Council South Asian American Policy & Research Cook County Board President Toni Casa Michoacán Institute Preckwinkle Centro de Información South Suburban Immigrant Project Urbana Mayor Laurel Lunt Prussing Centro de Trabajadores Unidos Southwest Organizing Project Spanish Community Center LABOR Chicago Community and Workers Rights Community Activism Law Alliance Telpochcalli Community Education Project AFSCME Local 3700 Community Renewal Society The Resurrection Project Chicago Teachers Union Dare to Dream: Get Educated Trickster Art Gallery Non-Tenure Faculty Coalition Local #6546 Enlace Chicago United African Organization SEIU Healthcare Illinois Indiana Erie Neighborhood House United Congress of Community and Religious SEIU Illinois Council Equality Illinois Organizations SEIU Local 73 Fight for $15 Voices for Illinois Children UIC Graduate Employees Organization Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Women Employed UIC United Faculty Human Rights Young Invincibles UIUC Campus Faculty Association UIUC Graduate Employees Organization