Inclusive Undergraduate Research Opportunities for Undocumented Students

ABSTRACT

Undocumented students in the United States face a number of structural barriers in accessing higher education. While there is growing attention to the need for legal, financial, social and psychological support for undocumented students, less attention is paid to their equitable access to high impact practices, such as undergraduate research opportunities. This article begins by providing a demographic profile of undocumented students in higher education, highlighting their intersectional identities by which their access additionally is racialized and classed. Students then share their personal experiences and reflections attempting to pursue research opportunities and research-related careers. Throughout, we identify both barriers to access and promising practices in their pursuit of university-sponsored opportunities. The article concludes with recommendations on how universities can ensure equitable access for all students.

KEYWORDS:

• First-generation college student
• equity
• inclusion
• undergraduate research
• undocumented students

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1. “Currently in school” includes enrollment in K-12; graduation from high school, higher education or technical schools; a general education development certificate (GED); or an honorable discharge from the U.S. Coast Guard or the U.S. Armed Forces.

2. https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/national/national-data/

3. Ibid.