About

The Immigrant Student Support Initiative is a Division within the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Queens College. This initiative is in alignment with the goals of the City University of New York’s (CUNY’s) centralized office for Undocumented and Immigrant Student Programs.

Available Services

The Immigrant Student Support Initiative at Queens College offers robust services to students, regardless of their immigration status. The initiative focuses on advocating for and empowering students with varying immigration statuses, including, but not limited to, undocumented, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), asylum-seeking, Temporary Protect Status (TPS), refugee, permanent residents, pending changes, and those that live in mixed-status families. Below is a list of available services.

Application Support: The Immigration Student Support Initiative provides limited assistance to prospective immigrant students with the undergraduate and graduate application process. Specifically, we aim to equip students with an understanding of the application process relating to their immigration status, granting students the necessary knowledge to safely and successfully complete their applications.

Guidance Accessing In-State Tuition: The Immigration Student Support Initiative aids eligible immigrant students in securing in-state tuition rates. We help students on a case-by-case basis to determine their eligibility status for the resident tuition rate and assist with any action that may be required.

Assistance Understanding Financial Aid: The Immigration Student Support Initiative examines students on a case-by-case basis, determining if they are eligible to apply for financial aid. If a student is eligible for federal student aid, we direct them to the Free Application to Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and offer limited assistance with the application. For students ineligible for federal student aid, we determine if they may receive New York State financial aid through the New York State Senator Jose Peralta Dream Act. If students are eligible, we offer guidance on the application process, answer any questions students may have, and assist with troubleshooting applications if necessary. 

Help Identifying Scholarships: To make up for the limited financial aid options available to immigrant students, the Immigration Student Support Initiative helps identify potential internal, local, state, and national scholarships available to undocumented and immigrant students.

Information on Professional Development & Service-Learning Opportunities: Students in the immigrant community have limited access and authorization to work opportunities. To assist, the Immigration Student Support Initiative attempts to connect students with professional development and service-learning opportunities available to the immigrant community.

Providing Referrals to Expansive Resource Networks: Beyond the direct services previously listed, the Immigrant Student Support Initiative focuses on connecting students with larger resource networks. The expansive resource network available to students includes services offered by other administration offices at Queens College, CUNY Programs, local nonprofits, and state agencies. Examples of potential referrals revolve around the need for legal expertise and mental health resources.