Fresno City College Dream Center's mission is to provide information, support, resources, and academic counseling to new and continuing migrant students in overcoming challenges and assisting students in the completion of their educational goals in a safe and confidential environment.

FRESNO CITY COLLEGE SERVICES

The Fresno City College Dream Center team is here to assist with AB540 Affidavit forms, CA Residency Questionnaires, Student Educational Plans (SEP), general counseling, Financial Aid assistance, scholarships, volunteer opportunities, job opportunities, legal advice from professionals, and other campus resources.

ADMISSIONS AND FINANCIAL AID

Admissions

The Dream Center in collaboration with Admissions and Records assist Undocumented students to receive the AB540 Nonresident Tuition Exemption through the Bills AB540, AB2000, and SB68.

California Non-Resident Tuition Exemption (AB540)

California law (AB540) provides for students who meet the criteria to be considered as residents for tuition purposes. This applied to students who may be an alien without lawful immigration status, as well as to students who have moved out of state and subsequently returned to California. A student is exempt from paying nonresident tuition if the student meets all of the following four requirements:

1. The student must have: attended a combination of California high school, adult school, and California Community College for the equivalent of three years or more, or attained credits earned in California from a California high school equivalent to three or more years of full-time high school course work and attended a combination of elementary, middle and/or high schools in California for a total of three or more years, and
2. The student must have: graduated from a California high school or attained the equivalent prior to the start of the term (for example, passing the GED or California High School Proficiency exam), or completed an associate degree from a California Community College, or completed the minimum requirements at a California Community College for transfer to the California State Univeristy or the University of California, and
3. The student must register as an entering student at, or current enrollment at, an accredited institution of higher education in California, and
4. The student must file an affidavit with the college or university stating that if the student is a non-citizen without current or valid immigration status, the student has filed an application to legalize immigration status, or will file an application as soon as the student is eligible to do so.
   
   AB 540 Affidavit Form

Financial Aid

Not a US Citizen or Permanent resident? Want to apply for financial aid, but cannot apply for federal aid due to your immigration status? Do you meet the AB 540 criteria and graduated from a California High School or received your GED or passed the high school equivalency exam in California or a higher degree? You may be eligible for state financial aid under the California Dream Act. The California Dream Act is a form of financial assistance.

The Dream Center in collaboration with the Financial Aid office support undocumented students with the following three bills: Assembly Bill (AB) 540, AB 130, and AB 131. Together, these bills allow undocumented and nonresident documented students who meet certain provisions to be treated the same as resident students.

Combined, these Assembly Bills constitute what is called the California Dream Act, and they allow undocumented AB 540 students to:

• Pay the resident fees at public colleges and universities,
• Apply for and receive private scholarships funded through public universities, state-administered financial aid, university grants, community college fee waivers and state-sponsored Cal Grants.

Financial Aid/Dream Act page: Financial Aid Dream Act