A new online higher education program has given renewed hope to students of undocumented status (or, “DREAMers” as they are affectionately known).
On July 30, applications became available to the public for students interested in attending National Dream University, a collective formed by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and National Labor College (NLC). In 2013, the program will allow students to take online courses, with visits to the National Labor College (Maryland) and UCLA at the beginning and end of the semester, respectively. This program currently consists of six course-offerings with hopes to expand into Associates and Bachelor’s degree programs. For now, UCLA and other universities will accept credits from NDU through its accreditation with the NLC.
While the program is targeted towards DREAMers, it is also open to other students who have demonstrated leadership and commitment to immigration and labor rights movements. Students with previous undergraduate or graduate educational experience can attend, too.
Creators of this new, online approach are opening the door to allow students from all around the U.S.; documented, or not, to participate at a flexible pace because they believe students should not have to await federal action on the DREAM Act in order to continue their education. If students can get past potential difficulties accessing computers/unlimited internet, many benefits of NDU arise.
The less expensive costs ($65 per credit hour) will provide access to higher education for DREAMers who qualify for, yet seldom receive financial aid and cannot work legally in the country; creating further barriers to achieving higher education. Another advantage to the program is that participants may be taught by Graduate students and Ph.D Candidates who are also undocumented. With NDU participants mostly coming from this demographic, will come a new support network of peers and role models who can relate to the challenges of what it is like to be an oft-forgotten DREAMer.
The hope offered through a program like NDU may also allow K-12 DREAMers to not see college as such a far-off, unattainable goal. As such, the thought of going to college may become more real, and it is my hope they might feel more comfortable seeking assistance to prepare for and take advantage of this opportunity.
References:
Creamer, Alyssa. (August 2012). DREAM Act College: UCLA professors create National Dream University, online school for undocumented immigrants. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://huff.to/PwdVFm
Romero, Dennis. (August 2012) College Just for Illegals? National Dream University launches with help of UCLA. LA Weekly. Retrieved from https://www.laweekly.com/college-just-for-illegals-national-dream-university-launches-with-help-of-ucla/