* Those whose DACA will expire sometime before March 2018 need to file an extension NOW, before October 5, 2017.
______________________
MONTGOMERY
COLLEGE
Office
of the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
September
15, 2017
MEMORANDUM
To:
Montgomery College Students
From:
Dr. Monica R.M. Brown, Senior Vice President for Student Affairs
Subject:
Support Services for DACA students
As you may have read
in the news or in Dr. Pollard’s message to the College community, the federal
government announced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
will end next year Many of our students have DACA status, and we hope Congress
will act swiftly to enact a permanent solution for all individuals who came to
this country as a child. I know this is a difficult time and your concerns
might make it hard for you to study and learn. It is our mission as an
institution and a division to support you, and I want to make you aware of
resources at the College and in the community that you may find helpful.
I have DACA
status. What do I do now?
Current DACA recipients will be permitted to retain both
the period of deferred action and their employment authorization documents
(EADs) until they expire. Some basic information about deadlines is available at
the Department of Homeland Security:
·
On an individual,
case-by-case basis, properly filed pending DACA requests received as of
September 5, 2017 will be considered
·
If your DACA status
is scheduled to expire between September 5, 2017 and March 5, 2018, you must
apply for renewal by October 5, 2017.
·
If
your DACA status will expire after March 5, 2018, you retain your status until
its expiration
My DACA status made me eligible for county or state
tuition rates. Will that change?
Your tuition rate will not change if your DACA status has
not expired. We strongly encourage you to complete the Maryland Dream Act
process described at www.montgomerycollege.edu/marylanddream to maintain county or state tuition rates if your DACA status expires.
This will also help you maintain lower tuition rates when you transfer to a
Maryland college or university. The termination of the DACA program does not
affect the Maryland Dream Act regarding tuition rates, because it is a Maryland
state law.
Will the College share my DACA status with anyone?
The College protects
the confidentiality of all student information and follows the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
and other applicable laws.
On Campus
Resources
·
Enrollment Services Specialists are available at each campus to
assist students with questions about their tuition rates and the Maryland Dream
Act process.
·
Counselors are available at each campus if
you would like to talk and process any emotions that you may be experiencing
during this time.
Off-Campus/Community Resources
·
Montgomery
County residents are encouraged to contact MC311 (dial 311 by phone) if they are in need of legal
resources or other support services.
·
The Intercultural
Counseling Connection
also has a variety of resources for refugees and immigrants in Montgomery
County and throughout the State of Maryland.
·
CASA
de Maryland is hosting a series of DACA renewal clinics between now and October
5th. http://wearecasa.org/events/category/featured/
The Student Senate at
the Montgomery College Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus will be hosting an open
community conversation on Monday, September 18th from 4 – 6 p.m. The
conversation will take place in the Cultural Arts Center, Theatre 1. Additional
forums on each campus
to answer questions about your DACA status and college enrollment and to assist
students with Maryland Dream Act and other paperwork will be held. Dates and
times will be announced in all College media.
The faculty and staff in the
Student Affairs Division are here to assist and support you should you
encounter any challenges or have questions related to this change. Please call
240-567-5000 or visit a Welcome Center on campus to be directed to the
most appropriate College resource.
