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IRSRC at Pima Community College

Immigrant and Refugee Student Resource Center (IRSRC)

IRSRC butterfly logo

About the IRSRC

The Immigrant and Refugee Student Resource Center was founded in 2019. Through the hard work and tireless efforts of students, community members, and the support of leadership, the IRSRC was created to address the pressing need to provide information, resources, and training for students, faculty, administrators, and staff at Pima Community College.

We are a team of Pima Community College staff and students who want to support immigrants and refugees in furthering their education at Pima Community College. All students can attend college!

Mission

The Immigrant and Refugee Student Resource Center (IRSRC) at Pima Community College partners with the College and community to gather resources to bridge the information gap and empower immigrant and refugee students to achieve their educational dreams.

PCC IRSRC wants to connect immigrant and refugee students to resources that help them start and finish their college careers, regardless of their immigration status. The best place to start is contacting the IRSRC office.

Our Services

  • Provide and distribute information and expand PCC community knowledge regarding immigrant/DACA/Refugee issues and experiences in post-secondary education.
  • Assist with development, delivery and distribution of information and workshops about immigrant issues to faculty, staff and other educators.
  • Provide academic support and information about college processes and community resources available to immigrant and refugee students.
  • Present to student groups, offer individual appointments, meet with family members.
  • Partner and collaborate with external community organizations to support immigrant (DACA, undocumented and mixed status families) and refugee students.

Legal Referral Services 

  • Immigration Legal Referral. The IRSRC Pima ColLegal Immigration Referral Program is an immigration referral program. We can help you find legal resources and refer you to one of our partner local attorneys. Read more for additional information.
  • Know Your Rights. The University of Arizona Immigrant Student Resource Center has worked with the Tucson Community Rapid Response network to compile some valuable information to help you know your rights.
    • To request a card with this information in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Haitian, Hwog, Koren, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tigrinya, Ukrainian, Vietnamese to carry in your wallet please contact the IRSRC.

Application Assistance

To be eligible, students must have done both of the following:

  1. Attended a public or private high school or homeschool equivalent while physically present in Arizona for at least two years
  2. Graduated from any public or private high school option or homeschool equivalent while physically present in the state or obtained a high school equivalency diploma in this state.

To change residency status for continuing and returning students:

  1. Complete, sign and date the Residency Non Citizen Form
  2. Submit the form and documentations via the Registrar Upload Portal in MyPima found under STUDENTS > REGISTER & PAY > SCROLL DOWN AND SELECT RESIDENCY CORRECTION > UPLOAD ALL DOCUMENTS (If possible scan all documents into one PDF file)

Tips and Information

PCC IRSRC wants to connect immigrant and refugee students to resources that help them start and finish their college careers, regardless of their immigration status. The best place to start is contacting the IRSRC office.

DACA and undocumented, refugee and asylum students attend colleges and universities across the U.S., including Pima. We also support students from mixed immigration status families.

Below are some tips and information to help connect you.

DACAmented and Undocumented Immigrant students.

  • Do not fill out FAFSA if you are an undocumented individual. It is important to note, undocumented and DACA students are not eligible for Federal or Arizona State student aid.
  • "Need" for scholarships can be determined through ways other than the FAFSA. Contact the IRSRC for suggestions.

Refugee or Asylee Students

If you have an Arrival-Departure Record (I-94) from the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) titled as a “Refugee” or “Asylee Granted” you can apply and qualify for federal or financial assistance. Individuals with Refugee or Asylee status are entitled to need-based financial aid through FAFSA and state grants. Here are tips for completing the FAFSA.
 

How to pay for college

This is a quick visual aid to see where you stand with federal and private aid. If you have questions, give us a call or email. We'd love to help you find ways to pay for your school.

Type of Aid U.S. Citizen Legal Permanent Resident Visa Holder DACA Recipient Undocumented
Federal Aid Yes Yes No No No
State Aid Yes Yes No No No
In-State Tuition Yes, If student meet residency  requirements Yes, If student meet residency  requirements Depends on visa type Yes, if student meets the requirements access to in-state tuition after the passage of Proposition 308* Yes, access to in-state tuition after the passage of Proposition 308*
Private Loans Yes Yes Yes, But may  need U.S. Citizen or permanent resident cosigner Yes, But may  need U.S. Citizen or permanent resident cosigner Yes, But may  need U.S. Citizen or permanent resident cosigner
Government  Loans Yes Yes No No No
Government  Grants Yes Yes No No No
Institutional Aid Yes Yes Depends on visa type and the school they attend Eligible for financial aid in the form of state and local assistance, grants, scholarships, or tuition waiver programs. Since passage of Proposition 308* Eligible for financial aid in the form of state and local assistance, grants, scholarships, or tuition waiver programs. Since passage of Proposition 308*
Federal Work-Study Yes Yes F1 Student Visa Holders are eligible for College Work-study Eligible for College Work-study No
Private Scholarships Depends on eligibility requirements Depends on eligibility requirements Depends on eligibility requirements Depends on eligibility requirements Depends on eligibility requirements

Scholarship Resources

Here are some websites you can use to research scholarships. Remember, never pay to apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Have more questions? Contact us so we can help.

Scholarship Opportunities Sites 

Please contact our office so we can talk about resources and find the best ways to support you. Navigating college may be difficult, we are here to help.

IRSRC Contact Information

Find Community

Instagram: @PCCIRSRC
Facebook: PIMA IRSRC
X (formerly Twitter): @PCCIRSRC

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