School Counselors Igniting the Hope of Undocumented Students in College Access

ABSTRACT

Undocumented immigrant students represent 2% of the total U.S. higher education population. Due to their citizenship status, many undocumented high school students encounter barriers to college access including prohibitive admissions policies, increased tuition rates, and funding restrictions. Some undocumented students experience anxiety, frustration, and fear due to these barriers. School counselors can utilize group counseling to guide undocumented students through the college access process and potentially cultivate hope for the future. This article details a college access group for undocumented high school students. The group goals and activities utilize a Hope Theory framework.

KEYWORDS:

• Undocumented immigrant students
• college access
• career development
• Hope Theory

Additional information

Notes on contributors

LaVonna L. Groce

LaVonna L. Groce is a School Counselor in the Gwinnett County Public School System at Maxwell High School of Technology.

Leonissa V. Johnson

Leonissa V. Johnson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Counselor Education in the School of Education at Clark Atlanta University