DREAMing Big

Abstract

Undocumented student immigrants in the United States face substantial challenges in higher education including systemic, institutional, and cultural barriers that often impede access to and success in higher education. These barriers directly influence academic and work opportunities. The purpose of this article is to discuss the myriad of factors that affect the academic, career, and work development of undocumented college students. The three main objectives of this article are to (1) examine legislation that directly impacts access to higher education, (2) explore common barriers and systemic challenges undocumented college students face, and (3) review culturally sensitive interventions and resources for working with undocumented college students. Vocational psychologists and career counselors employed in higher education are in a unique position to provide culturally sensitive counseling services to undocumented students as well as to advocate for their academic and work-related needs.

Social justice and career development: Progress, problems, and possibilities

“…Undocumented workers experience lower levels of occupational safety (Flynn, Eggerth, & Jacobson, 2015) and along with undocumented students, often experience chronic insecurity and hypervigilance (Bjorklund, 2018;Fernández-Esquer et al, 2017;Kantamneni et al, 2016). A 2018 special issue of JVB dedicated to refugees sheds light on their experiences of adversity and trauma, and their coping strategies, resiliency, and agency as they deal with devastating loss and change, adapt and reestablish their lives, and secure employment (Newman, Bimrose, Nielson, & Zacher, 2018).…”

Vocational Psychology: Expanding the Vision and Enhancing the Impact

“…Promising new directions in practice and advocacy are emerging in vocational psychology and related fields that focus on marginalized communities and facilitate a more expansive understanding of interventions above and beyond career choice and development issues. Research that has documented the academic and work barriers faced by immigrant students (Kantamneni, Dharmalingam, Tate, Perlman, Majmudar, & Shada, 2016;Kantamneni, Shada, Conley, Hellwege, Tate, & Wang, 2016;McWhirter, Ramos, & Medina, 2013) has informed vocational psychology advocacy efforts focused on dismantling structural barriers that prevent immigrant youth from pursuing educational and work opportunities. In addition, Allan, Duffy, and Collisson (2018) made a unique contribution to career counseling practice by focusing on meaningful work as an intervention outcome.…”

School Counselors Igniting the Hope of Undocumented Students in College Access

“…Counselors in K-12 and college settings were trained by DREAMzone facilitators about the difficulties encountered by undocumented students pursuing college admission. The program yielded more informed educators, allies, and institutional support systems that supported undocumented students on their college journeys (Cisneros & Lopez, 2016;Kantamneni, Dharmalingam et al, 2016). Groups committed to supporting undocumented students on their college journeys can make an impact (McWhirter et al, 2019).…”