The Arizona Board of Regents recently adopted a resolution giving DACA students a discount from out of state tuition rates. The new level is 50% over the in-state level. Arizona still prohibits any benefits to undocumented students.
AZALAS supports the offering of in-state tuition to any graduate of an Arizona high school. Arizona has high standards for graduation. This proposal is a recognition that while the number of undocumented students is unknown, these students complete high school and are ready for higher learning but meet a barrier with the out of state tuition mandate or even the recent lower rate for DACA students. There are many examples of students’ success in high school as indicated by stories of Valedictorian and Salutatorian honors received at graduation events around Arizona but leave Arizona accepting tuition waivers and scholarships to institution outside of Arizona. DACA students in higher ed are visible and performing well!
Arizona has high need for various work position requiring college degrees. The state is experiencing shortages of teachers and healthcare professionals! The state looses the opportunity to take advantage of these graduates by requiring such high levels of tuition. Why would Arizona refuse to provide this opportunity to students that have done the work and prepared themselves for higher level learning and economic contribution.
According to the Children’s Action Alliance KIDS COUNT Statewide Profile, 95% of children in Arizona are citizens which leaves relatively few that are not and would provide for little impact to state tuition revenues. In fact, reducing the impact of high tuition cost could actually increase participation thus eliminating any negative impact on revenue. We also know that undocumented students are mostly people of color which are already not represented proportionately in higher education attendance. It is also the right thing to do! Limiting access to higher education for students that work hard and do the right thing by preparing for a career just does not make sense.
AZALAS supports providing in-state tuition for any student that receives a high school diploma.