UA students face immigration challenges
Jack Willems
Issue date: 10/17/08 Section: News
Frank leads the average life of a student at the University of Arkansas. He lives in a block of apartments near campus and commutes to class every day. Frank participates in groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens, is a member of a fraternity and stays active in politics.
"I worked a table yesterday registering people to vote," Frank said. "The irony is that I myself cannot vote."
Frank, who has asked not to be identified by his last name, is an illegal immigrant enrolled at the UA, and he is not the only one. The UA, Arkansas State University and the University of Central Arkansas will accept such students, though the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will not, according to their respective admissions offices.
Last month, Rick Green, state representative of Van Buren, asked state universities not to accept illegal immigrants. There are 21 students at the university that could not provide a Social Security number when they applied, said Karen Hodges, interim director of Admissions. In such cases, it is assumed the students are here illegally.
"Why would we not want to admit students to get an education?" Hodges asked rhetorically.
Last May, Gov. Mike Beebe decided state universities may admit such students, but they cannot be given in-state tuition or state-funded scholarships, a decision that has affected Frank and students like him. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel confirmed that legal opinion in September.
"Above all, finding a way to pay tuition is the largest hurdle," Frank said.
Frank's mother, a legal resident, always has paid for his tuition because Frank cannot legally work. Frank, and other students like him, will continue to pay the same tuition until they graduate because the university has provided them money in private scholarships to make up the difference, said Nancy Talbert, vice provost of Academic Affairs. New students applying must pay out-of-state tuition, she said.
Still, Frank worries about being able to finish his degree.
"I worked a table yesterday registering people to vote," Frank said. "The irony is that I myself cannot vote."
Frank, who has asked not to be identified by his last name, is an illegal immigrant enrolled at the UA, and he is not the only one. The UA, Arkansas State University and the University of Central Arkansas will accept such students, though the University of Arkansas at Little Rock will not, according to their respective admissions offices.
Last month, Rick Green, state representative of Van Buren, asked state universities not to accept illegal immigrants. There are 21 students at the university that could not provide a Social Security number when they applied, said Karen Hodges, interim director of Admissions. In such cases, it is assumed the students are here illegally.
"Why would we not want to admit students to get an education?" Hodges asked rhetorically.
Last May, Gov. Mike Beebe decided state universities may admit such students, but they cannot be given in-state tuition or state-funded scholarships, a decision that has affected Frank and students like him. Attorney General Dustin McDaniel confirmed that legal opinion in September.
"Above all, finding a way to pay tuition is the largest hurdle," Frank said.
Frank's mother, a legal resident, always has paid for his tuition because Frank cannot legally work. Frank, and other students like him, will continue to pay the same tuition until they graduate because the university has provided them money in private scholarships to make up the difference, said Nancy Talbert, vice provost of Academic Affairs. New students applying must pay out-of-state tuition, she said.
Still, Frank worries about being able to finish his degree.
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