Promising Practices for Financial Aid Counselors: Increasing Award Rates for CA Dream Act

Themes/Topics: Higher Education

Geography: California

Audience: Ally, Educator

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Summary

This resource lists various promising practices that financial aid counselors can adopt on their campus to increase application and award rates for the CA Dream Act. The promising practices in this resource are sorted into two categories. “Getting Started” gives some foundational steps you can take to broaden inclusivity for undocumented students and those from mixed-status families. “Taking It to the Next Level” includes promising practices that may require more effort, coordination, or long-term planning, but are effective in institutionalizing existing support for students who are undocumented or hold U Visas or TPS. At the end of this document, there are external links that you can incorporate into your toolkit.

Who may benefit from this resource?

“Promising Practices for Financial Aid Counselors” is designed with financial aid counselors, as well as other campus staff who work in financial aid, in mind. Whether you are in direct contact with students or a key decision-maker, this is for you!

Outline

  1. Introduction
  2. Getting Started
    1. Always say “FAFSA or CADAA”
    2. Include the CA DREAM Act in all outreach materials
    3. Increase website presence
    4. Highlight data protection
    5. Support students from mixed-status families
  3. Taking It to the Next Level
    1. Identify a point person
    2. Encourage departmental training
    3. Show FA Award & add outstanding holds
    4. Collaborate between departments
    5. Uplift paid professional development opportunities through DSIG
    6. Support students with U Visas & TPS Status
  4. Useful Financial Aid Resources
  5. Putting This Into Place

Topics & Keywords

CA Dream Act Application (CADAA), financial aid, promising practices

Immigrants Rising helps you make decisions based on your potential, not your perceived limits. Visit our website so you can see what’s possible: immigrantsrising.org. For inquiries regarding this resource, please contact us at [email protected] with the title of the resource included in the email subject line.

Revised 1/2026.

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