City Colleges seeks to foster a welcoming environment for all students, regardless of immigration status. Numerous initiatives, both within the institution and in partnership with immigrant-serving allies, work to ensure City Colleges of Chicago responds to new immigration policies affecting our students so they may be prepared to pursue their life’s goals.
City
Colleges of Chicago is committed to creating a welcoming environment for all
students. We embrace the wonderful diversity of our student body.
We encourage all of our staff, faculty, and students to review the resource
guide of the
National Immigrant Justice Center as part of an education campaign
to Know Your Rights.
ICE Guidance
Our students' health and safety is our primary
concern.
Here you will find a document developed by the City of Chicago, Department of Law,
that outlines how City Colleges should handle an ICE
visit to our facilities, should that occur.
Those in need of
assistance are encouraged to contact the Illinois Coalition for
Immigrant and Refugee Rights 1(855) HELP-MY-FAMILY, 1(855) 435-7693 or www.icirr.org.
DACA
Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA, enables many of our students to move forward with their college and career pathways; we will continue to support all of our students as they pursue their life goals. DACA recipients residing in Chicago can contact the National Immigrant Justice Center for free legal assistance.
The Heartland Alliance's National Immigrant Justice Center's legal hotline is available to anyone who has questions about DACA: 312-660-1370
Additionally, the network of community-based organizations comprising the Chicago Legal Protection Fund are working with all seven City Colleges and facilitating trainings and information sessions at the college.
Paying for College
Undocumented students looking for ways to finance their education have multiple options. They can:
- Visit the Financial Aid Office at his or her college to discuss possible options.
- Find scholarships offered through the City Colleges of Chicago Foundation
- Apply for the Chicago Star Scholarship -- which offers qualifying students up to three years of education to pursue an associate degree at no cost, offering full tuition and book waivers. Undocumented students are eligible for the Chicago Star Scholarship.