Cal State San Bernardino will host the grand opening of a new DREAMers Resource and Success Center on Thursday, Nov. 5.
The event will be held at 10 a.m. in the university’s Santos Manuel Student Union, room 102B. Local high school and community college students are invited to attend. Light refreshments will be served. Parking on campus is $6 per vehicle.
The center, which will be part of the Division of Student Affairs, will provide a welcoming place where CSUSB undocumented students, their allies and supporters of underserved populations can congregate, exchange ideas and provide support to one another.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales and Vice President for Student Affairs Brian Haynes will give welcome remarks at the grand opening.
“Modeled after successful programs on four other CSU campuses, the innovative DREAMers Resource and Success Center will provide a valuable service to students and will highlight all of the assets that the university has to offer,” said CSUSB President Morales.
The four other campuses in the CSU system include Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles and Northridge.
Also known as AB 540 students, DREAMers will now have a center where they can find assistance, resources and connect with other students who are facing similar immigration issues.
“In the past, due to a lack of resources, undocumented students and family members may have been hesitant to apply for college believing that their immigration status could jeopardize their stay in the U.S., as well as make their college experience more challenging,” said Olivia Rosas, associate vice president for enrollment management.
The center will focus on bringing awareness to the California Dream Act (financial aid), employment opportunities, scholarships, internships, immigration services, information about graduate school and other resources that will help achieve student success.
“The DREAMers Center has been made possible through the support of CSUSB top-level administrators, faculty, staff, and most importantly, our students,” said Rosas.
“It will also provide resources for students who are preparing for graduation,” said Yadira Ortiz, admissions counselor for CSUSB’s Admissions Office and the Educational Opportunity Program. “This will include information and workshops for graduate school, fellowships and financial aid sessions, thereby increasing the retention and graduation of undocumented students.”
For more information about the new DREAMers Resource and Success Center, contact Yadira Ortiz at (909) 537-7371 or email yortiz@csusb.edu.
Set in the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, CSUSB is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in inland Southern California. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2015, CSUSB serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually.
For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.