Immigrants and Undocumented Students/DREAMers

DREAMers and undocumented students allies. A rainbow colored monarch butterfly

Lower Columbia College Campus Emergency Funds

Envíe un correo electrónico a Ariana Muro (amuro@lowercolumbia.edu) para obtener ayuda con este formulario en español.

Information for Immigrants, Undocumented Students, DREAMers, Real Hope Act.

Our commitment to you.

LCC affirms our unwavering commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive environment for all members of our community, including undocumented students, those with mixed status families, refugees, asylees, DACA recipients, international students, and other immigrants.

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Residency Information

Washington residents pay resident (in-state) tuition and fees and are eligible for state financial aid. Both U.S. citizens and non-citizens can be Washington residents, including undocumented students. In most cases, a Washington resident is someone who lives in the state for one year immediately before starting their college.

Regardless of citizenship or immigration status, you qualify for resident tuition and state financial aid if you meet these three requirements:

Earn a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent before your first term at LCC.
Live in Washington for at least one year immediately before your first term at LCC, and your purpose for living in Washington during that time was not mainly to go to college.
Sign an affidavit swearing that you meet the above requirements and that one of the following is true:
1. You are a US citizen/permanent resident, OR
2. You will apply to become a permanent US resident as soon as you are eligible, and you are willing to engage in activities designed to prepare you for citizenship, including citizenship or civics review course.

If you meet these requirements, you can submit a form called a Residency Affidavit and no other documents will be required.

If you are an undocumented student and you already know you qualify, go to WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid) to apply. Or, scroll down for more information.

Resources for Immigrants and Undocumented Students

Know Your Rights: Civil Immigration Enforcement in Washington (from the Washington State Office of the Attorney General)

How to apply for Financial Aid

Eligibility for several Washington State financial aid programs is available for students who are ineligible for federal financial aid due to immigration status.

Students who meet individual program, income, or residency requirements for the Washington College Grant (previously known as the Washington State Need Grant), the College Bound Scholarship, State Work Study, or Passport Scholarship should complete the free WASFA (Washington Application for State Financial Aid).

Important! Make sure to select Lower Columbia College as a school that you want to receive a copy of your WASFA!

School Code: 003782

Apply for the WASFA

Application Resources (also available on the WASFA site)

WASFA Application Guide

Where to find scholarships for undocumented students

Lower Columbia College Foundation Scholarships

Undocumented students who have applied for the WASFA are encouraged to apply for Foundation Scholarships. Applications are accepted once a year for the following academic year.

Other Outside Scholarships:

How to get more information related to immigrant and undocumented students

On the LCC Website

On Other Websites

Videos

Local Resources

National/Federal Resources

Institutional policies and practices that protect LCC student privacy

Student Records Policy

The Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (1974) prohibits schools from providing any outside agency—including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)—with student information without the student's written consent, unless the disclosure is required to comply with a judicial order or subpoena or meets the conditions set forth in section 99.31 of FERPA. Any law enforcement agent in search of an individual or seeking information should be directed to Lower Columbia College's Vice President of HR, Foundation, and Legal Affairs, Kendra Sprague at ksprague@lowercolumbia.edu or (360) 442-2121.

To provide consent to LCC to release your information, submit a FERPA Release of Information Form.

Higher education institutions may, however, share certain information called “directory information” without a student’s written consent. Students can choose to not allow even directory information to be shared by submitting a Restrict Directory Information Form.

The following has been designated as directory information by Lower Columbia College and may be released without a student’s written consent:

Students may request that directory information not be released. Restricting the release of directory information will have other consequences, including:

Verification of the student’s enrollment or degrees may not be provided to potential employers or other third parties.
The student’s name may not appear in the commencement program.
The student’s name may not be released to any newspaper or other agencies in recognition of graduation or other achievements.
The student may be excluded from lists of academic award winners.

A directory information restriction applies to all elements of directory information in a student’s record. Individual directory information data elements cannot be restricted. Lower Columbia College does not assume responsibility for contacting a student for ongoing permission to release directory information.

For more information see LCC's Catalog Annual Notification of Student Privacy (FERPA).

Non-Discrimination and Anti Harassment Policy

LCC supports and affirms our entire college community, especially those whose identities and communities are marginalized. LCC celebrates diversity, inclusion and equity, and holds these values at the heart of our College.

For more information see LCC's Non Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy.

Code of Student Conduct

Admission to LCC carries with it the expectation that students will conduct themselves as responsible members of the college community, that they will comply with established rules and regulations of the College, maintain high standards of honesty and integrity, and respect the rights, privileges and property of other members of the College community.

For more information see LCC's Code of Student Conduct.

Federal and state regulations

January 2025 update on federal immigration enforcement: things you should know

Dear students and campus community,

Since its founding 90 years ago, Lower Columbia College has been proud to welcome students from all backgrounds. We firmly believe that higher education should be open, inclusive, and accessible to all who seek to better their lives through learning. In light of recent federal announcements regarding immigration, we want to share some information that might be helpful for you.

Diversity and Inclusion: We remain committed to our values of diversity, inclusiveness, and the right of all students to pursue their educational goals free from unlawful interference.
Admissions and immigration status: As an open-access institution, we do not base admissions decisions on immigration or citizenship status. Our campus security personnel will never question or attempt to detain individuals based on their immigration status.
Privacy protections: As federal law requires, we do not disclose protected information from student education records except as required in response to a lawfully issued subpoena or court order. Higher education institutions do, however, share certain information called “directory information.” Students can choose not to allow their directory information to be shared by submitting a Restrict Directory Information Form. For further details, please see the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) section of LCC's Academic Policies and Records webpage.
Access to campus: As a public institution of higher education, our college has public spaces. Many of our spaces are reserved for use by students and employees so our college can fulfill its mission of delivering education to students. We can restrict entry to limited access, nonpublic areas (such as offices, student housing, and classrooms).

We know that recent federal announcements may be causing fear and anxiety for some campus community members. Please know that we are here to support you. Below are some resources that may be helpful:

We remain deeply committed to providing a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment for every student who seeks to grow and create a brighter future. Together, we can uphold the values of compassion, understanding, and equity that define LCC. You are an essential part of our campus community and are always welcome here.

Sincerely,

Matt Seimears Ph.D.

President

All Are Welcome!

Lower Columbia College does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in admission and employment. Lower Columbia College provides equal opportunity in education and employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, citizenship or immigration status, age, perceived or actual physical or mental disability, pregnancy, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, creed, religion, veteran or military status, or use of a trained guide dog or service animal as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act and ADA Amendment Act, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act and Washington State's Law Against Discrimination, Chapter 49.60 RCW and their implementing regulations. All inquiries regarding compliance with Title IX, access, equal opportunity and/or grievance procedures should be directed to Vice President of Foundation, HR & Legal Affairs, 1600 Maple Street, PO Box 3010, Longview, WA 98632, title9@lowercolumbia.edu, Phone number, (360) 442-2120, Phone number/TTY (800) 833-6388. The notice of nondiscrimination is located at https://lowercolumbia.edu/disclosure/non-discrimination/.

Contacts

Admissions and Financial Aid

One Stop and Advising

Ale Sanchez (Career Pathway Advising)

(360) 442-2355
asanchez@lowercolumbia.edu

Aracely Marin Silva (General Questions)

(360) 442-2598
amarinsilva@lowercolumbia.edu

Angel Ruvalcaba (General Questions)

(360) 442-2361
aruvalcaba@lowercolumbia.edu

Darren Schwegler (Educational Planning)

(360) 442-2338
dschwegler@lowercolumbia.edu

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Dan Ruiz (DEI Office)

(360) 442-2105
druiz@lowercolumbia.edu