All Are Welcome at City Colleges

Welcome! We are glad you’re here. This is a space where undocumented students and their families can find guidance and resources to pursue a college education, learn English, or earn a high school diploma – and feel supported as they do so. There are also tools and information for faculty and staff to better assist undocumented students and their families.

An undocumented status does not affect your admission to City Colleges – we are an open enrollment institution, and students are accepted all year. No one will ask you your status, and it is not part of the enrollment process.

An undocumented status may, however, impact financial aid, scholarships, and grants. But we are here to help you navigate everything from paying your tuition to planning your class schedule, to helping you transfer to earn your bachelor’s degree or find a career that fits your skills and interests.

Resources for Undocumented Students

A word of caution for undocumented immigrant applicants:

City Colleges of Chicago cares about your privacy of information and does not ask applicants to self-identify as undocumented. However, from time-to-time undocumented students mistakenly state on their admissions application that they are a “non-U.S. Citizen seeking to attend college on an F1-Visa,” which prompts the student to provide documentation they do not have. When coming across the question on the admissions application “Are you a Non-U.S. Citizen seeking to attend college on an F1-Visa?” and you are undocumented, please select “No,” as this option only applies to International students, and this error may be difficult to change in the admissions application once the applicant has submitted their application.

Learn More and Apply to CCC

Learn English If you want to learn English or improve your English for any reason, we offer FREE ESL classes. To start English classes, please register at www.ccc.edu/ae, where there are resources in Spanish (español), Polish (Polski), Arabicعربى)) , and Simplified Chinese (中国人).

Earn Your High School Diploma If you need to earn your high school degree, you can prepare for free at City Colleges. We offer these classes in English and Spanish. Learn more and register today at www.ccc.edu/ae.

Take College Credit Classes to Earn a Degree or Certificate If you are ready to take college classes, we are ready to help!

Take College Credit Classes for Free While Still in High School Motivated juniors and seniors at Chicago high schools, regardless of citizenship status, can get a head start by earning college credit for free through the City Colleges Early College Program. Learn more at www.ccc.edu/earlycollege

Additional Resources Read more about community-based resources, national resources, and education resources here.

Paying for Your College Education

At City Colleges, we can help you find the best option to pay your tuition for credit classes, including financial aid and scholarships. Your first step is the Financial Aid Office at your college.

City Colleges classes are the most affordable around. Learn more at http://www.ccc.edu/tuition.
There are many scholarships and grants available for undocumented students – from both City Colleges and other organizations. You can learn more at http://www.ccc.edu/scholarships.
You may qualify to fill out the Federal Application for Financial Aid (FAFSA) or the Illinois RISE Application. To learn more, visit your Financial Aid Office or visit https://www.isac.org/Alternative-Application.

Support From Your College

At City Colleges, you have allies. Look for the open-door logo/undocu-ally poster displayed on offices throughout our campuses. If you ever need an advocate to help you navigate college offices or programs, or someone who can listen to things you do not feel comfortable sharing with just anyone, contact the Undocumented Student Services Liaison at your college. We are here to help!

Harold Washington College

Truman College

Kennedy-King College

Malcolm X College

Olive-Harvey College

Daley College

Wright College

Resources for Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff who want to understand how to better support undocumented students can start here.

Undocumented Student Resource Guide for Faculty and Staff

City Colleges UndocuAlly Training

The City Colleges of Chicago UndocuAlly Training is designed to provide faculty and staff with information and resources to better assist undocumented students.

This 3-hour training session is offered once per semester, focusing on the roles, expectations, and responsibilities of becoming an effective advocate for undocumented students, including

State and federal legislation that affects undocumented students
CCC admissions, financial aid guidelines, processes, student support services
Community resources

Register to attend one of our bi-annual training sessions. For questions or concerns, contact Luvia Moreno, Associate Dean of Student Services, Harold Washington College at hwc-undocuhelp@ccc.edu.

About Undocumented Student Services

City Colleges of Chicago undocumented student initiatives exemplify our commitment to support undocumented students, as well as to diversity, equity, and inclusion. As part of our strategic plan, we are focused on creating an exceptional student experience for anyone who seeks to pursue an education at any of our seven colleges.

Our Goals

• To cultivate an open and supportive campus environment for each undocumented student.

• To improve awareness of the issues and concerns of CCC undocumented students.

• To strengthen CCC policies and practices that directly impact undocumented students.

• To increase faculty, staff, and student understanding of immigration laws.

• To increase community awareness of CCC’s open and supportive practices towards the undocumented immigrant community in Chicago.

Our Actions

• Offer ongoing Undocumented Student Ally training sessions for faculty and staff.

• Providing a comprehensive Undocumented Student Resource Guide for Faculty and Staff (link)

• Meet with students one-on-one to offer advocacy and connect them to resources and information.

• Work with community partners to provide legal advice, mental health support, among other services.

• Develop recommendations to modify or improve upon CCC policies and practices.

News and Events

July 29, 2022

Undocumented Student Liaison Announcement

10:00 am

Harold Washington College

Undocumented Student Services at City Colleges of Chicago

The newly expanded Undocumented Student Services at City Colleges of Chicago launches this month, including the addition of designated college-specific Undocumented Student Liaisons. The Undocumented Liaisons along with strengthened resources will now be available at each college in accordance with House Bill 3438 for academic year 2022-2023 and beyond.

Read the Article Here

PLEASE NOTE: The information and materials presented on this site are general and informational only and do not constitute legal advice. Immigration questions should be directed to a licensed immigration attorney. Campus and legal information provided on this site is subject to change at any time. Updates will be provided, when possible, but faculty, staff, students, and the general public should continue to update and educate themselves concerning undocumented students and their families.