College of DuPage is committed to our students and the community, regardless of immigration status. We understand that undocumented students, DACAmented students and mixed-status families of our community face challenges when navigating college. College of DuPage has designated an undocumented student liaison in order to stay on top of emerging needs and be an advocate for students and their families.
Getting Started at College of DuPage
New students to College of DuPage should start with submitting a general admissions application. Students should review the important tips below and continue to follow the steps to enrollment.
- Undocumented and DACAmented students should submit the general application and not the international application.
- The general application requires a social security number. To obtain an alternate identification number, contact your assigned admission representative or the Office of Admissions and Outreach at (630) 942-2626.
- Use your full legal name; do not shorten your name or use nicknames.
- Use your personal email; do not use a school or family email account.
- Answer the question, “Are you a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident?” correctly and leave the “Visa Type” question blank. Only sections with a red asterisk are required to answer on the application.
- Students seeking F1-Visa should submit an international admission application. For more information visit International Student Services.
For questions about applying to COD or following the steps to enrollment, contact:
Students with last name A-L, contact:
Edward Ortega
Bilingual Admissions Representative
Hablo español
Phone: (630) 942-2075
Email: ortegae149@cod.edu
Students with last name M-Z, contact:
Iris Castellanos
Admissions Representative
Hablo español
Phone: (630) 942-2397
Email: Castellanosi92@cod.edu
Paying for College
Students are encouraged to research different scholarship opportunities. Scholarships are available for a variety of categories including community involvement, academic program or grade point average. Every scholarship has their own eligibility requirements.
Internal Scholarships
College of DuPage offers scholarship opportunities on a semester-by-semester basis. Fall scholarships are posted in January and due in March. Spring scholarships are posted in September and due in November. For more information, watch a video on applying for scholarships.
External Scholarships
External scholarships are open-to-the-public. Students are encouraged to follow organizations on social media for more information on scholarship opportunities.
Students may be eligible apply either by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Alternative Application for Illinois. If you need help submitting your application, attend a Financial Aid Workshop. Students under political asylum or in the process of seeking residency should contact their Financial Aid Representative to determine eligibility.
FAFSA Application
In order to complete a FAFSA application, students must meet several eligibility requirements. Students of mixed status families may run into questions when submitting a FAFSA application. For more information, visit studentaid.gov.
Alternative Application for Illinois
Undocumented/DACAmented students may be eligible to apply for the Alternative Application for Illinois. To review eligibility requirements, visit the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.
For additional questions regarding paying for college, contact their Financial Aid Representative. If you feel you have incorrectly been billed tuition as an international student, contact the International Student Services office to request a tuition appeal form.
Counseling, Advising & Transfer Services
The following counselors have experience in working with undocumented and DACAmented students, as well as working with mixed-status families:Devin Chambers, Counselor
Email: chambersd62@cod.edu
Laura Kaslow, Counselor
Hablo español
Email: leinweberl@cod.edu
Rosie Carbajal-Romo, Counselor
Hablo español
Email: carbajal-romor@cod.edu
Undocumented Student Resources
The following resources provide a wealth of information on education, health care, housing, legal assistance, legislation updates, and emergency aid. Follow these organizations on social media for updates. Highlighted links are specific to COD.
The following resources provide a wealth of information on education, health care, housing, legal assistance, legislation updates, and emergency aid. Follow these organizations on social media for updates. Highlighted links are specific to COD.
- DuPage Health Coalition: Healthcare
- Homeless and At-Risk Student Resources: Homeless and Housing Insecurity Resources
- Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights: Immigration Legal Resources, Housing and Healthcare
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC): LGBT Immigrant Rights and Legal Resource Center
- Immigrants Rising: Mental Health and Storytelling
- Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC): Alternative Application for IL
- National Immigration Law Center (NILC): Immigrant Rights
- National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC): DACA, Refugee and Asylum
- Pew Research Center: Immigration and Migration Policy
- Special Population Group Resources: Local Area Resources
- The Coalition for Immigrant Mental Health (CIMH): Mental Health
- The Illinois Association for College Admission Counseling: University Contacts and Sharing the Dream Conference
- The Latino Policy Forum: Education, Housing, Immigration and Leadership
- The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC): Educational
- Southwest Suburban Immigration Project: Immigration, Education, Health and Economic Justice
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): DACA Updates
- World Relief: Immigration Legal Services
- Fuel Food Pantry
- Students in Need of Assistance
- Need-Based Hotspot Lending Program
- Student Emergency Funding
- Zero Textbook Cost (ZTC) Initiative
Contact Information
For inquiries regarding admission, financial aid, or counseling, advising, and transfer services, contact the department directly. For all other questions, please contact:
Elizabeth Gómez de la Casa, Manager, Intercultural and Latino Student Initiatives;
Undocumented Student Liaison
Berg Instructional Center (BIC), Room 1500
Hablo español
Phone: (630) 942-3146
Email: gomezdelacasae@cod.edu