Community colleges continue ban

Published: Monday, September 1, 2008 10:23 PM CDT
Morgan Wall
Staff Reporter

DOBSON — While the State Board of Community Colleges studies whether to let illegal immigrants back into its system, local high school students should be able to continue attending the college through dual enrollment classes and the Early College program regardless of immigration status.

The State Board of Community Colleges decided Aug. 15 to study the issues surrounding the admission of illegal immigrants into North Carolina’s Community College system. The board will employ an independent consultant using funds from the State Board Reserve to examine how other systems of higher education are handling the same issue.

While this study is being conducted, the board advised community colleges to maintain the decision handed down in a memorandum May 13, barring illegal immigrants from being admitted to the schools. This memo was originally issued due to the United States Attorney General’s investigation into the constitutionality of admitting illegal immigrants into community colleges. It overruled a Nov. 7, 2007, memorandum advising community colleges to immediately begin admitting undocumented individuals.

Since that time, the Attorney General has concluded that there is no state or federal law that prevents colleges from admitting illegal immigrants, leaving the decision to each individual state as to how they would proceed. Due to the fact that the admissions policy has changed four times in the previous eight years, the North Carolina board decided to hold off on further changes until they could come up with a lasting solution.

The May 13 memo, which reflected a December 2001 directive, dictated that illegal immigrants should not be admitted into curricular programs at community colleges. There are, however, three exceptions to this ruling. The first applies to those undocumented aliens who are high school students enrolled in college courses such as those involved in the Early College, a dual enrollment program or the Huskins program. This is allowed because participation is not based on legal residence, but on attendance of a North Carolina high school.

“We would hope that our students would continue to have the opportunity to take higher level courses and college level courses that allow them to access the skills required to be successful in the 21st century learning and working environment. Under the United States Constitution, all children within our boundaries are entitled to a free and appropriate public education. At this time in North Carolina, a comprehensive high school education includes opportunities for students to access college level curriculum and skills,â€