Dreamers Center
Charge
The Dreamers Center initiative will establish a campus center devoted to providing resources, information, support and advocacy for UTSA's DACA and UnDACAmented students.
- Help students navigate changing national policies
- Provide education, advocacy and awareness of our Dreamers and Dreamer-related issues to the campus community
- Provide assistance to prospective Dreamer students
- Offer referrals for legal services, counseling, financial assistance and career services
- Collaborate with community partners who can provide additional support
Elvira Jacquez, Executive Director of Operations, Office of the President
Strategic Plan Midpoint Update (Fall 2022)
In January 2018, newly arrived President Eighmy made it an early priority to establish a Dreamers Resource Center to support the growing needs of the university’s DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients and other undocumented students. Elvira Leal, (former) Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, oversaw an effort to create a campus center to provide education, advocacy and awareness of our Dreamers and Dreamer-related issues.
Since its creation, the DRC has positively impacted retention and graduation rates for more than 450 students through workshops, peer mentoring and partnerships with other campus resources—including, Wellbeing Services, The Graduate School, and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. The Center supports UTSA students, staff, and faculty with the training, resources, and knowledge needed to ensure that every Dreamer receives the correct information required to successfully enroll, persist and graduate from college.
This Initiative Supports Strategic Destinations
Destination One: Model for Student Success