TheDream.US Scholarship
North Park proudly welcomes Dreamers and encourages eligible students to apply for聽. As one of 12 partner colleges in Illinois, Dreamers can attend our university using TheDream.US-provided scholarships. For a complete list of eligibility requirements, scholarship application information, and deadlines, visit聽.
Once attending North Park, TheDream.US students will meet with their TheDream.US advisor four times a semester and participate in at least one class with fellow Dreamers to support one another.
Financial Aid
North Park strives to offer a quality and affordable education for all students. All of our聽talent and merit scholarships聽are open to undocumented students.
While undocumented and DACAmented students are not eligible for federal aid and should not complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the State of Illinois has implemented the Retention of Illinois Students & Equity (RISE) Act. This act allows eligible undocumented and transgender students disqualified from federal financial aid to apply for all state financial aid forms.
The Alternative Application for Illinois Financial Aid provides a pathway for these qualified students to apply for Monetary Award Program (MAP) grants, the state鈥檚 most extensive need-based grant program for low-income college students. Students who meet the criteria should 听补苍苍耻补濒濒测.
College Guides for Undocumented Students
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FAQ
Your scholarship covers all your tuition and basic student fees for four years if you are a first-time college student or two years if you are a community college graduate. You will also receive a $1,500 annual stipend ($750 per semester) from TheDream.US for housing, books, and other costs.
Provided you follow the steps below, you can take a break in enrollment while keeping your scholarship.
According to the聽, if exceptional circumstances require you to take a term off or to drop all your classes mid-term, you should:
-
- 颁辞尘辫濒别迟别听The Dream.US Request Form聽in your ISTS Scholar Portal to take a break in enrollment. Requests will be reviewed and approved or denied within two鈥搕hree weeks.
- Notify your scholar advisor and explain the reason for your break in enrollment and the date you will return.
- Upon your return, meet with your scholar advisor to develop a plan for completing your degree on time (three years if an associate degree; six years if a bachelor鈥檚 degree).
*You cannot take off more than two semesters. Your time off will be included in the maximum time you have to use your award.
- According to the聽, if you fail or drop a course and need to retake it, you will not lose your scholarship or have to reimburse TheDream.US for the costs of the classes. TheDream.US will deduct the amount it paid for that class鈥攚hich generally depends on the length you were in the course before withdrawing鈥攆rom your maximum award amount, which means you will have fewer funds available to complete your degree.
- If your GPA drops below 2.5, you must work with your scholar advisor to develop a plan to improve your GPA. You will lose your scholarship if your cumulative GPA remains below 2.0 for more than one academic year.
- Many factors affect which opportunities different students can pursue, so make an appointment with your scholar advisor or the Career Development Office to discuss specifics.
- For students with work authorization through DACA or TPS, there are various on- and off-campus work opportunities, including positions on聽聽but excluding Federal Work Study. Create an account on Handshake and make an appointment with career development to discuss jobs and internships.
- Students need authorization to work on or off campus; however, there are opportunities for unpaid experiences funded with scholarships and independent contracting opportunities. If you are interested in pursuing this option, make an appointment with career development and your scholar advisor to discuss details.
- US scholarship recipients can access the聽. This program is unavailable to F-1 visa holders, who can only work as independent contractors if granted a work permit (OPT or SEH).
You will initially have to go through the application process and receive admittance before being able to request a funds transfer. Once you have received admittance, contact your TheDream.US advisor and the partner college advisor to let them know you will request a funds transfer.
We have our聽Lighthouse Scholarship聽specifically for first-generation first-year students. Please view the link for further eligibility and inform your admission counselor if you are first-generation.
Know Your Rights
(seven languages provided)
to defend your rights
(pocket-size know your rights cards)
Financial Resources and Scholarships
On Campus Resources
Off Campus Resources
FAQ for Immigrant Students
No. North Park has no list of known undocumented students, students with DACA, TPS, etc.
ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is restricted to public areas on campus and must have a signed judicial warrant to access a specific private area. Private areas include classrooms, staff and faculty offices, file rooms, and spaces requiring a key for access. If ICE officers show up on campus they will be directed to Campus Safety who will determine the legality of their presence on campus. As employees of the university, Campus Safety Officers are governed by FERPA and must act accordingly.
FERPA, or the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, prevents release of your educational records unless you give your written consent, this includes parents and other family members. Educational records include, but are not limited to, your telephone information, grades, student billing, financial aid awards, course schedule, discipline records, and medical treatment records. More information can be found here. This means that faculty and staff cannot share any of your private information with outside agencies without a written and signed warrant.
There are times when we work with immigration officials regarding our international students and the regulations pertaining to them, and the documentation provided for them to study at the university. In these cases, their contact is generally limited to working with the folks in our International Student Affairs. North Park is an open campus so that anyone can walk onto it. However, some buildings, classrooms, housing, and offices are off-limits without a signed judicial warrant.
Only if a signed judicial warrant is provided with that specific residence hall information and room number are all front desk staff instructed to contact campus security if federal immigration enforcement officers appear unaccompanied by campus safety personnel.
Any time a federal immigration enforcement office asks for access to information, refer them to campus security at 773-244-5560.
Office of International Affairs (773) 244-5553 international@northpark.edu for international or exchange students interested in information on visa status and possible changes to policy.
Counseling Support Services, counseling@northpark.edu, for students experiencing anxiety or stress regarding their immigration status or any other wellness issue.
University Ministries, umin@northpark.edu, which is open with staff on site for pastoral care, in the Johnson Center during business hours.
The Office of Intercultural Student Affairs, diversity@northpark.edu, offers support for students of diverse backgrounds in Sohlberg Hall, allowing them to celebrate their cultural identities. In December, they hosted a 鈥淜now Your Rights鈥� training, in conjunction with Hanul Family Alliance for those interested in supporting immigrant students. Intercultural Student Affairs can connect campus community members for consultations around immigration, should anyone be interested in that resource.
Preparing for Lives of Significance and Service
鈥淭his initiative provides students the opportunity to achieve their academic and career goals and, in turn, benefit society as they become contributing members of the workforce in their communities.鈥�
鈥揚resident Mary K. Surridge
Contact our TheDream.US Liaison
Gen Rivera
Senior Admission Counselor
garivera-lucero@northpark.edu
773-244-4763
Mental Wellness Resources