All Access Committee

All Access Committee Logo

In collaboration with the Office of Inclusive Learning & Engagement, the All-Access Committee works to identify and/or create access opportunities and initiatives that lead to student success for DACA, immigrant, non-traditional, adult, first generation and all access-service students.
Resources for immigrants, refugees, and other new Americans

Committee Chairs

Esther Pla-Cazares (Email)
Rosie Martinez (Email)

Become a member of the All Access Committee by emailing CSN Diversity.

Support for Our DACA & Undocumented Community

As CSN President Dr. Zaragoza stated, CSN supports our undocumented and DACA community members. We want to reaffirm CSN’s strong support for our community and to let you know that there are resources available to help in this time of increased uncertainty. We also strongly encourage all DACA recipients to renew their DACA status before a Supreme Court decision is made, even if the status is set to expire in more than six months.

The following are some resources to assist you during this time:

The UNLV Immigration Clinic provides free DACA renewals. To schedule an appointment, call (702) 895-2080 or email the Immigration Clinic.
The Immigrant Home Foundation also provides assistance with DACA renewals. To schedule an appointment, call (702) 889-4431 or email the Immigrant Home Foundation.
The NSHE All Access Committee is building a comprehensive state-wide support system for students who are undocumented, students with DACA, as well as immigrant students under other immigration statuses. You can find more information in the NSHE All Access DACA Renewal Guide or contact the CSN All Access Committee.
CSN Alternative Scholarship Applications for 2020-2021 are still being accepted. The Alternative Scholarship is for students who cannot qualify for federal aid due to U.S. citizenship requirements.
CSN Generation Dreamers Student Club is designed to establish a support network for DACA and undocumented students at CSN, please contact Esther Pla-Cazares.
For more statewide support, refer to the Nevada Immigrant Resource Guide.
Additional campus and community resources are located below.

Please know that CSN supports you and your journey toward completion and will be here for you now and in the future.

Read the full President message.

For All Students (regardless of status)

CSN Disability Resource Center

Textbook Assistance Program

CSN Scholarship Information

Student & Exchange Visitor Request

Silver State Opportunity Grant

CSN Financial Aid DACA Info

CSN Payment Plans

Student Emergency Funds

Resource Links

Steps to Renew DACA

NSHE DACA Renewal Guide

Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada

ACLU Nevada Resources

Deferred Action

Family Education Rights & Privacy Act

DACA Toolkit

UNLV UndocuNetwork

Catholic Charities Immigration Services

UNLV Financial Aid for DACA

Your Rights Inside Your Home

Emergency Funds for Undocumented Families

Dream Big Nevada

For Faculty and Staff

CAPE Training

Supporting Undocumented Youth Guide

Contact Us

Pla-Cazares, Esther

Lead Counselor

Academic Counseling

email | 702-651-4387

Martinez, Rosie

Recruiter/Success Coach

Department of Recruitment & College Connections

email | (702) 651-5836

CSN Emergency Funding Eligibility

Eligibility - The emergency fund provides enrolled degree-seeking students taking six or more credits with short-term financial assistance. Applicant must submit appropriate documentation with application (state-issued photo identification card or CSN student ID), have no administrative holds on records and have not received a financial aid refund in excess of $3,000. International, undocumented, and DACAmented students are eligible to apply. For further details go to Emergency Fund Criteria and Award Protocol.

Application - https://at.csn.edu/documents/student-emergency-fund-application

What does the Rescission of DACA by the Department of Justice mean for students?

From "My Undocumented Life", Carolina Valdivia explains:
What does this mean for undocumented young adults?
– If you qualify for DACA, but have not submitted your application: DACA initial request applications will no longer be reviewed.

– If you currently have DACA: You can keep using your employment authorization/social security number. – If your DACA is going to expire before/on March 5, 2018: You can apply to renew it. Note: You should submit your renewal application by October 5, 2017 (this will be within the six-month period needed to receive a decision).

– Regarding advance parole: If you have DACA and had plans to travel abroad using advance parole (AP), new Form I-131 applications for advance parole will not be reviewed. If you received your AP approval before 9/5/17, it will still be honored. Pending applications will be denied and the money will be refunded.

More Information and FAQs about the Rescission

FAQs about the rescission of DACA from the Department of Homeland Security.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/09/05/frequently-asked-questions-rescission-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-daca

Official Memorandum on the Rescission of DACA from the Department.
https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/09/05/memorandum-rescission-daca

Information on DACA from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/consideration-deferred-action-childhood-arrivals-process/frequently-asked-questions

Applying for Admission and the Student’s Immigration Status

To gain admissions to CSN, an applicant is not required to provide personal immigration status on the application, except in the case of students on an F-1 or F-2 visa. However, any individual who claims US Citizenship or being the recipient of a visa that permits federal financial aid eligibility or Nevada residency for tuition purposes may be required to show proof of such documentation by the institution. Not all visas allow students to attend college while in the United States and doing so without authorization could jeopardize the student’s ability to renew said visa or to change immigration status in the future. If you are seeking to request an F1 Student Visa to attend CSN, please contact the International Center for more information.

Applying for Admissions - Optional Answers

While CSN’s admissions application asks for a Social Security Number or an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) - providing either number is optional. There are several reason why CSN asks for this information:

Like other institutions of higher education, CSN uses the social security number to generate the 1098 T Tax Form allowing eligible students to qualify for a tax credit when filing taxes. You may ask your tax preparer for more information. A non-resident alien student without a social security number may also use an ITIN to get a 1098 T tax form. Please click for instructions on how to apply for an Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN).
CSN also uses the Social Security Number on the admission application to match up the student’s information to his/her Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) requesting federal aid to attend CSN.
Finally, the college uses social security numbers to provide enrollment and graduation status information to the National Student Clearinghouse. Other educational institutions, employers, and third parties use the Clearinghouse to verify student enrollment and receipt of diploma.

Free Application for Student Aid and the DACA Student

Although DACA students are NOT eligible for federal aid, they can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to generate the Student Aid Report (SAR) which can help determine eligibility for state, institutional or private aid (scholarships). The student will be required to enter the Social Security number on the FAFSA and answer the “Are you a U.S. citizen?” question with “No, I am not a citizen or eligible noncitizen.”

The FAFSA form for does not ask for parent citizenship data but asks that the applicant provide parental social security information, in which case the student should enter 000-00-0000. A DACA student submitting a FAFSA must print, sign, and mail the FAFSA signature page to: Federal Student Aid Programs, P.O. Box 7006, Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0076. A DACA student who by mistake receives an offer for federal financial aid despite being ineligible must reject the aid. Intentional misrepresentation or acceptance of a miss-award may lead to criminal charges and severe consequences with immigration.

Financial Aid Question & Answer Summary Table

Q. Can DACA students complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)?	A. Yes, DACA students can complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Q. Are DACA students eligible for federal financial aid funds?	A. No, currently DACA students are NOT eligible for federal financial aid funds.
Q. Why should DACA students complete a FAFSA if they are NOT eligible for federal financial aid funds?	A. After completing the FAFSA, students receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) that can be used to receive both institutional and private scholarships.
Q. Can DACA students use the Student Aid Report (SAR) for scholarships at CSN?	A. Yes, DACA Students CAN Apply for CSN Scholarships using their SAR
Q. Does the FAFSA ask for parental citizenship status?	A. No, The FAFSA does not ask for parental citizenship information. If the students’ parents do not have a social security number, the student should enter 000-00-0000 as the parents’ social security number on the FAFSA. Additionally, students will have to print out and sign the FAFSA signature page and mail it in.
Q. Where should DACA students mail their signed FAFSA signature page?	A. Students should send their signature page to the following mailing address: Federal Student Aid Programs P.O. Box 7006 Mt. Vernon, IL 62864-0076
Q. When DACA students complete their FAFSA and receive an offer for federal financial aid, can they accept it?	A. No, if DACA students receive an offer for federal aid despite being ineligible, they must reject the aid for which they know they are ineligible.
Q. What will happen if a DACA student accepts an offer that was improperly awarded?	A. If a DACA student intentionally misrepresents eligibility for federal aid in order to claim a benefit for which he/she is not eligible, the student could face criminal and immigration consequences.

Millennium, GEAR-UP, and Silver State Opportunity Grant Scholarship Eligibility for DACA Students

DACA students qualify for the Nevada’s merit based Millennium Scholarship when all of the following conditions are met:

Graduated with a diploma from a Nevada public or private high school
Completed high school with at least a 3.25 grade point average (weighted or un-weighted) calculated using all high school credit granting courses.
Completed a total of 14 units according to breakdown: 4 units of English, 4 units of Math (including Algebra II or higher), 3 units of Natural Science, and 3 units of Social Science & History
Passed all areas of the Nevada High School Proficiency Examination
Has been a resident of Nevada, as defined by the Board of Regents’ policy (Title 4, Chapter 18, Section 19) for at least two of the student’s high school years.
DACA students cannot qualify for a federally funded GEAR-UP Scholarship because they are NOT considered eligible non-citizens as defined by the FAFSA
DACA students qualify for a need based Silver State Opportunity Grant Program when all of the following conditions are met:
Filled the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Demonstrated financial need (as reflected by student and family resources of th FAFSA’s Student Aid Report)
Enrolled full time as a degree-seeking student at Nevada State College or at one of the Nevada System of Higher Education’s (NSHE) community colleges.

Committee Members

Laura Latimer

Laura Cortez

Frank McPherson

Rubi Mercado

Amy Palmer

Mary Sasso

Ryan Rishling

Gilberto Revolorio

Rosalinda Martinez

Esther Pla-Cazares

Anthony Herrera

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All Access Committee

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Support for Our DACA & Undocumented Community

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All Access Committee

Committee Chairs

Support for Our DACA & Undocumented Community

Contact Us

Connect