On Thursday, June 18, 2015 members of the University of the District of Columbia’s Board of Trustees Operating Committee will convene for its regular meeting. On the agenda is the important item, “Proposed Undocumented Students Policy Change.”
Statement from Franklin Garcia, United States Representative (Shadow), District of Columbia, in Support of the University of the District of Columbia’s Proposed Policy Change for Undocumented Students
(June 17, 2015) “I am pleased that the University of the District of Columbia’s Board of Trustees Operating Committee has taken the critical step in addressing the higher education needs of undocumented residents in DC.
Education is a civil right and the cornerstone of social and economic progress. The proposed change in policy at UDC will make it possible for many city residents to pursue their dream of attending college.
As a public institution, UDC’s history is steeped in the tradition of access to affordable education for marginalized members of society. Changing the policy is the right thing to do and in alignment with the University’s history; and it will benefit students as well as the school.
Currently, 12 states have passed laws that provide undocumented students with access and opportunity to affordable higher education through their respective version of DREAM Act legislation. The implementation of UDC’s proposed policy change will position DC as another state that understands the value of making higher education more inclusive, accessible and affordable to the community it serves.
I am hopeful that the Board of Trustees Operations Committee will implement the proposed change in UDC’s tuition policy and we can finally claim the victory that all DC residents have equal access to our State college.”
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