Faculty and Staff Advocacy

As part of the NIU community, there are many ways you can support our undocumented students. Keep these general tips in mind:

• Use the term "undocumented," not "illegal."
• Don't ask students to tell you their immigration status. If they do tell you, keep it confidential as we would any non-directory related information. Visit FERPA and Confidentiality Student Information to learn more.
• Please contact Sandy Lopez, Ph.D. at 815-753-2391 if you have a student you would like to refer for resources.

Consider the following ways to get more involved:

• We encourage students, staff, faculty and community members to attend the Undocumented Ally Training offered by the Office of Undocumented Student Support and DREAM Action NIU student organization. This training is offered once per semester in the fall and spring. After training, display a sign on your office door stating your support of all our NIU students, with a particular focus on NIU undocumented students.
• Donate to the Immediate Assistance Fund, which provides small grants to help students with tuition, rent, books, etc. Be sure to specify that your donation should be directed to the fund.
• Read the reminders for DACA recipients and employers about work authorization and the DACA Guide for Employers.

Faculty Advocate Group

You can support undocumented students by joining Faculty Advocates for Undocumented Students. This group of faculty, instructors, staff and others have shown their support by:

• Raising funds for the Immediate Assistance Fund.
• Supporting the DREAM Action student organization through a show of support that can include attending their events or serving as a resource or content expert.
• Promoting understanding of issues facing undocumented students, particularly in the classroom.

For more information, contact Laura Heideman at lheideman@niu.edu.