To make education accessible and affordable for undocumented students, Colorado Mountain College has announced a move to eliminate up-front cost of tuition for students eligible under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
The Fund Sueños program, or the Dream Fund, will help the undocumented students who aren’t eligible to receive federal financial aid to continue their higher education.
Under the Dream Fund, the college will enter into an income-sharing agreement, in which the students will pay reduced tuition in exchange for a set percentage of income after graduation.
The college sees the move as a strategic measure to enable students to achieve their full potential and close the achievement gap.
“Our educational and social mission extends to all Coloradans,” College President Dr. Carrie Hauser said.
“Fund Sueños is designed to break down persistent financial barriers for DREAMers and other students to ensure we are inclusive and accessible to everyone, modeling the democratic promise of higher education.”
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, while lauding the Mountain College for taking the initiative, said, “DREAMers deserve the opportunity to pursue an education. These students need champions like the leaders at Colorado Mountain College and its donors who continue to stitch a safety net in the absence of comprehensive immigration reform.”
The program funded by donors like Carole Segal, a member of the college’s Board of Overseers, will begin later this year.