Faculty, staff, and supporter resources

(1) Maintain respect.

Being undocumented is an immense burden and psychological stress factor – an undocumented individual and their family are at constant risk of being expelled from their home country. Being undocumented means not having access to many state or federal resources that everybody else may take for granted. Be mindful of your questions and keep in mind that asking about one’s immigration status can be very intrusive and threatening.

(2) Inform yourself.

There are many ways to learn about the challenges that undocumented students face on and off campus – you can look through our web-based resources to learn more, attend an Undocupeers training, or ask a student who has been open to you about their immigration status.

(3) Recognize the barriers to education.

Only 5-10% of undocumented youth ever enroll in college – in comparison, the overall percentage of students enrolling in college in the fall immediately after high school was nearly 70% in 2014 (NCES, 2015). In part, this is because no federal or state financial aid or loans are available for undocumented students in Colorado, and even private loans are almost impossible to obtain. You can be an effective ally to undocumented students by openly addressing the need to make higher education equally accessible for all.

(4) Show your support.

A simple sign in your office – such as the one available on this page – can show an undocumented student that they are in a safe space. Also, when reviewing on- and off-campus support programs and organizations, be sure to include groups and events that serve the specific needs of undocumented individuals. (Look through this page for a sample of such organizations.)

The Department of Homeland Security and Immigration & Customs Enforcement frequently conduct raids – with or without clear justification – that put communities at risk, spread fear, and disrupt families. The best response if you believe you might be witnessing a raid is to notify and work with the Colorado Rapid Response Network.

Call the Colorado Rapid Response Network 1-844-864-8341 (1-844-UNITE-41) to report any immigration enforcement activity or someone who has been detained.

For suspected or confirmed ICE activity on the Auraria campus, please refer to this guide.

This document outlines options for students to withdraw from courses, or switch modes of instruction, in the case that they, or a caregiver/guardian/immediate family member, face detention or otherwise are impacted by immigration enforcement to the point that they cannot successfully complete their studies, attend classes, or visit campus. These situations are relatively rare, and the options outlined here have been in place for many years to provide options to students who face unforeseen situations that significantly and negatively impact their ability to successfully complete coursework.

Please note that the various options listed below are available to students on a case-by-case basis. Students or supporting faculty/staff are encouraged to reach out to one of these relevant areas of staff members to learn more about options and procedures, and to discuss which option(s) is most helpful in support of the student.  

Student Care Center Contact: 303-615-0006, [email protected]  

Office of the Registrar Contact: 303-556-3991, [email protected]  

Office of the Bursar Contact: 303-615-0070, [email protected]   

Immigrant Services Program Contact: 303-615-0035, [email protected] 

MSU Denver maintains a robust donation network that provides funding for scholarships, social and cultural programming, and direct aid such as DACA renewal or emergency grants. All of those donation options can be accessed here:

https://www.msudenver.edu/giving

The in-person, 6-hour UndocuPeers Training usually takes place once a year, often during the spring semester, and is co-developed and co-taught by faculty, staff, and students from all three Auraria campus institutions.

This training is a professional learning experience (originally developed and brought to our campus by United We Dream) is designed to empower learners with the necessary knowledge, empathy, resources, and best practices for creating an inclusive campus environment for undocumented students. Participants will learn about the unique barriers undocumented students navigate, explore best practices for providing academic, career, and emotional support, and develop strategies to advocate for institutional policies that promote access and belonging.

In addition, MSU Denver lecturer Samanta Chumacero has also developed a virtual UndocuPeers training that covers the same topics as the in-person UndocuPeers training. It is available on Canvas and can be access here: …

Yes, we will gladly speak with you and your colleagues about topics such as:

• Common challenges immigrant and undocumented students face on a college campus, and how educators can address them
• Ways to effectively support English Language Learners
• Your specific questions or concerns

Please contact Immigrant Services at I[email protected]. We will accommodate requests based on staff availability.