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FAQs Who is HEAA? HEAA is the Higher Education Access Alliance, which is comprised of a diverse group of educators, students, business leaders, immigration advocates and community organizations. The Alliance is led by five Colorado non-profits: Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition; Colorado Progressive Coalition; Metro Organizations for People, Padres y Jóvenes Unidos, Colorado Catholic Conference. What does HEAA believe? Colorado’s immigrant students who are unable to document their legal resident status are being denied access to in-state tuition and financial aid at state colleges and universities. For the vast majority of these students, this makes the high cost of college prohibitively out of reach. HEAA is committed to working with policymakers and others towards providing in-state tuition for all Colorado students regardless of immigration or economic status. How does in-state tuition affect me? Higher levels of educational attainment increase the level of civic engagement, as well as the overall quality of life in our communities. A well-educated community has healthier residents, more voters, less need for public assistance, and fewer crimes. In-state tuition gives more students the opportunity to further their education, creating a more positive academic environment for all students, and encouraging greater academic achievement and a culture of high expectations. This means Colorado will have a better-educated work force and will be better positioned to attract high-growth industries including biomedical, software and new energy economy companies. Are there other states that have passed in-state tuition legislation? Yes. Eleven states have passed In-state tuition legislation granting in-state tuition to all students who graduate from their high schools and meet the minimum residency criteria of the state, regardless of their legal status: California, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. Two states offer financial aid to undocumented students — New Mexico and Texas. What impact has in-state tuition legislation had in other states? What was the cost to taxpayers? In California and Texas — two of the first states to implement such legislation — research found that the costs associated with in-state tuition were dwarfed by the spending on social programs and higher rates of crime that would result from inaction. How will this policy affect students who are already eligible for in-state tuition? Colorado students who are currently eligible for in-state tuition will not be impacted by this policy. However, we anticipate that by raising expectations and encouraging academic achievement for all students, even students who are already eligible for in-state tuition will benefit from a stronger education environment. What will happen to undocumented students after they graduate from college? Proposed federal legislation, known as the “DREAM Act,” would grant immigrant students (who have lived in the US for at least five years and arrived before age 16) a permanent path to US citizenship in exchange for two years of military service, two years of a bachelors program, or completion of a two year associate’s degree. This legislation, which has been supported by a diverse group of bipartisan lawmakers including President Obama and Senator McCain, is expected to be re-introduced in 2009, and would help students who attend a Colorado university or college to work in, and give back to, Colorado. What can I do? Tuition equity for all Colorado high school graduates affects us all. That’s why HEAA is working hard to broaden our coalition of supporters across the state. Here are just a few ways you can help:
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