Oct. 29
Post-DREAM Strategies
October has not been a good month for educators working to get more government assistance for college students – or potential college students — who lack the legal documentation to stay in the United States.

First, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, vetoed legislation in California that would have allowed such students in his state to receive more financial aid and tuition waivers. Then, a measure in Congress to create a path to permanent residency status for these students was blocked in the U.S. Senate – effectively killing this year the DREAM Act (DREAM stands for Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors, and is the name given to both state and federal bills on the topic).

As educators gathered Friday at the annual meeting of the College Board, in New York City, a hot topic of conversation was how to help these students in the wake of such defeats. People spoke about legal and political strategies — as well as the challenges facing colleges and their financial aid officers. At several sessions where the issue came up, there was a unanimous public consensus that these students need and deserve help. But without changes in various laws, which generally deny financial aid to the students, some worried about the ability of colleges to meet the needs.

Michael A. Olivas, director of the Institute of Higher Education Law and Governance, who has served as an expert witness and lawyer in such cases (on behalf of the students) characterized the political opposition to help for the students as “a jihadâ€