FAQ Related to DACA Students at Claremont McKenna College

CMC seeks to admit and enroll the strongest candidates from the broadest possible applicant pool. Like any other accepted student, DACA students are admitted to CMC on the basis of their superior academic and leadership abilities.
The Admission Office at CMC – like many other colleges around the country – does not necessarily know if applicants are enrolled in DACA at the time they apply using the Common Application.
DACA applicants are evaluated for admission based on their academic qualifications in the context of their domestic school and thus in the context of the domestic applicant pool.
DACA applicants are not required to submit results from the TOEFL and IELTS.

While DACA students are not eligible for Federal Pell Grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study, or Federal Student Loans, CMC still meets 100% of demonstrated need for students who are not eligible for federal aid. They are typically packaged with College Work-Study and other forms of college aid.
California residents who are DACA and have submitted the AB 540 affidavit are eligible to receive the California State Grant (CalGrant) if they apply using the CA Dream Act Application by March 2.
Over the course of the DACA program, financial need has never been a factor in any adverse admissions decision for any DACA student. Indeed, each DACA student admitted has received a meet-all-need financial aid offer.

In November 2016, President Chodosh expressed CMC’s support for DACA and undocumented students. When he signed a statement in support of DACA and undocumented students, he stressed the need for a sustainable, legislative framework and solution, and extended a number of resources to affected students and families.
In November 2016, Dean Basso reached out to students to likewise indicate support for DACA students, and listed available resources.
In September 2017, Dean Basso reaffirmed CMC’s commitment to accept, enroll, and support DACA students through measures of advisory, legal, and financial support.

CMC continues to follow its policy to protect the legal interests of all of our students. Accordingly, unless legally compelled to do so, CMC:

will not permit U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCICS) officials or other law enforcement personnel that may be designated on behalf of USCICS (such as Claremont Police) to come onto to the CMC campus to conduct immigration enforcement activities without a proper warrant unless there are exigent circumstances as recognized under law;
will not authorize or permit Campus Safety to perform any immigration enforcement activities or cooperate with any USCICS activities;
will not voluntarily produce documents in relation to any student’s immigration status without the student’s express consent or unless the College is subjected to a lawful subpoena or warrant;
have and will (in collaboration with Claremont College resource groups) continue to invite legal experts in immigration law to present information to students, faculty, and staff; and
has and will continue to facilitate access to legal counsel for DACA students and their families on a pro bono and privately funded basis.

CMC provides outreach and access to emergency funding from the Dean of Students Office, including grants to cover unanticipated expenses now impacting DACA students. These have included and (where applicable) will continue to include:
- fees to apply for or renew DACA status;
- wages for on-campus employment opportunities;
- supplemental grant funds for educational expenses not otherwise covered under financial aid packages; and
- other expenses in consultation with the Dean of Students.

CMC has provided outreach and access to immediate and longer-term support in the forms of counseling through:
- Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services;
- The Claremont Colleges chaplains;
- the CARE Center; and
- external counseling resources.