Monarch Student Program

Mission

Our mission is to promote a community where undocumented/immigrant students can thrive academically, personally, professionally through program advising, mentoring and workshops. We partner with other departments at the University of Texas to promote a positive and welcoming environment for all students.

Our staff is committed to providing these services with the utmost confidentially to protect student’s identification. We will be allies who help raise awareness and advocate for the academic rights of undocumented students at the University of Texas at Austin.

Contact Alicia, the Monarch Student Program Coordinator at alicia.moreno@austin.utexas.edu for more information or for assistance.

Subscribe to the Monarch Newsletter to get important information about events, opportunities, and resources.

Want to support undocumented students at UT Austin? Donate now.

What We Do

The Monarch staff provides direct services to students who are undocumented, have temporary-status, and/or are from mixed status families to support their academic success, retention, and graduation. We collaborate with campus partners including academic departments, faculty, student service units, student success initiatives, and student organizations to address service gaps for undocumented/immigrant students and their families. Monarch raises awareness and advocates for the rights of undocumented/immigrant students at UT Austin.

   

Monarch Canvas Page

Our Canvas page offers a one-stop-shop for relevant resources and information to help undocumented students navigate UT. Some modules included in our Canvas page include:

• Course Registration Resources
• Financial Resources
• Career Preparation Support
• Legal Services
• Housing Resources
• How to Get Involved on Campus
• Mental Health & Wellness
• Travel Resources

Monarch staff will make updates to information and add relevant resources as needed. We will post announcements about upcoming Monarch and campus events as well as relevant opportunities.

Join our new Monarch Canvas Page today!

Get Involved

• Get involved with the University Leadership Initiative (ULI)
  • Student organization on campus composed of undocumented students and allies organizing around immigrant rights on the local, state, and national level. They provide resources and community for undocumented students on campus.
• Get involved with Rooted, the Immigrant Student Liberation Collective
  • Visit the Rooted website to find out more. Contact them to get involved.

Services

Academic

• Access to Free unlimited tutoring with the Longhorn Center for Academic Equity
• Access to our technology lending library: Laptops, iClickers, and other resources (calculators, blue books, etc.)

Personal

• Staff members serve as a liaison and resource on campus
• FAQ listing on our site of university policies and application resources for prospective and admitted students
• We offer personal workshops and host socials for our current members
• Mental wellness workshops and trainings in partnership with Counseling and Mental Health Center (CMHC)
• Get help paying for CMHC visits, filing FAFSA/TASFA, and connect with our current members

Professional

• Learn about undocufriendly companies where you can seek internship opportunities
• Participate in professional development workshops with undocumented professionals in the Austin community
• Travel to leadership or research conferences, attend on-campus networking events, and attend PD workshops

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

• Can I still study abroad even though I am undocumented/DACA-mented?
• Why am I marked as an International Texas Resident?
• Where can I meet other students that are in similar situations as I am?
• Where can I find scholarships that are tailored for students like me?
• How do I tell interviewers of any job restrictions or of certain job permits?
• Where can I go to understand all the acronyms (for example all the visas and other vocabularies)?
• I have some questions regarding the paper FAFSA/TAFSA. Where do I go for help?

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Can I still study abroad even though I am undocumented/DACA-mented?

• If you are DACA-mented, yes! There is a process called Advance Parole. Texas Global (formerly International Office) has great information on this and can help guide you every step of the way. Please visit the Monarch Canvas page to access more information on this topic.

Why am I marked as an International Texas Resident?

• Any student who is not a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (green card holder) is labeled as an “international student.” Most students are given this label in relation to their UT registration regardless of Texas residency.

Where can I meet other students that are in similar situations as I am?

• There is a great student-org called University Leadership Initiative that does great work with the undocumented community. Follow @uli_tx
• Plus, there are over 1,300 student organizations to choose from!

Where can I find scholarships that are tailored for students like me?

• Follow Monarch on social media and join our Email listserv to see updates about new scholarship opportunities. Below are a few national scholarship resources. The scholarships listed on these sites do not require applicants to be U.S. citizens. A few may require applicants to either be a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or DACA. 
  • All Levels 
    • Hispanic Scholarship Fund (HSF) 
      • Eligibility – U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or DACA 
    • 10,000 Degrees List of Scholarships  
      • Eligibility varies
    • MALDEF Scholarship Guide for 2021-2022 
    • My Undocumented Life – College Scholarships 
  • Undergraduate Students 
    • Immigrants Rising: List of Undergraduate Scholarships 
  • Graduate Students
    • Immigrants Rising: List of Graduate Scholarships 
  • High School Students
    • Jack Kent Cooke Foundation – College Scholarship Program 
      • FAQ – Eligibility 

How do I tell interviewers of any job restrictions or of certain job permits?

• The Texas Recruitment & Interviewing Services (TRIS) is an excellent on-campus resource located in SSB 4.102. Their office has created an online resource guide to help students find career and internship opportunities.

Where can I go to understand all the acronyms (for example all the visas and other vocabularies)?

• DACA – Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals is not a pathway to citizenship but it allows a student to work, study abroad, have a driver’s license, etc. This must be renewed every two years. 
  • For up-to-date DACA news, visit DACA Updates by Immigrants Rising. They have recent information on how the Texas ruling made in July, 2021 impacts current DACA recipients and new applicants.  
• HB 1403 – House Bill 1403 grants non-immigrant students, including undocumented students, access to in-state tuition rates at Texas public institutions and to state financial aid (e.g., TASFA). You must meet specific criteria to qualify.  
• SB 1528 – State Bill 1528 is an amendment to HB 1403 which allows all individuals who have lived in Texas for a significant part of their lives. Citizens, Permanent Residents and certain non-immigrant students could establish a claim to residency following its provisions. 

I have some questions regarding the FAFSA/TASFA. Where do I go for help?

• Texas One Stop (Home page) 
  • For information about the FAFSA, paper TASFA, and the eTASFA, go here. Specific information about the TASFA is located under “Can a non-U.S. citizen qualify for state financial aid?”  
• Please visit the Office of Financial Aid or email InterTX@austin.utexas.edu for assistance. 
• Keep up with Monarch’s Email listserv and social media for updates on FAFSA and TASFA. Applications open on Oct. 1st each year.