Multicultural/Undocumented Resources

About Multicultural/Undocumented Resources

We are committed to being inclusive to all students. Our staff can connect you to the resources you need to be successful in college - including scholarship information, advising and more. We invite you to stop by our office at any time during your college journey!

Información en Español

Programs and Services Offered 

  • Cultural enrichment activities
  • Outreach to underserved communities
  • Undocumented and minority student scholarships
  • Advocacy and support to all students
  • Academic advising for students (English and Spanish)
  • Leadership development opportunities
  • Field trips to four-year schools

Take Part in Our Annual Celebrations & Events

  • Black Teen Summit
  • Latino Student Empowerment Conference
  • Hispanic Heritage Month
  • Black History Month
  • Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
  • Black Perspective series
  • Escalera series

  • Our Goals

    Our Goals for Current and Future Students

    • To provide access and educational assistance to multicultural, undocumented and mixed status current and future students
    • To educate students and their families about financial assistance and scholarships
    • To provide academic support and wrap-around services to ensure successfully enrollment, college persistence, and goal completion
    • To increase understanding of immigration laws that affect undocumented families and negatively impact college persistence
    • Work with community legal aid partners to provide legal advice, screening, and assessment


    Our Goals for the Campus Environment

    • To improve awareness of the issues and concerns of all JJC’s students
    • To investigate and review JJC’s policies and procedures that may negatively affect student enrollment, retention and completion and develop recommendations to eliminate these barriers
    • To cultivate an open and supportive campus environment

Undocumented Student Resources

  • How We Support Our Students

    We Support Undocumented Students

    In keeping with our core value of Respect and Inclusion, JJC stands in solidarity and in of support of undocumented students.

    As part of our commitment to serve those that identify as Undocumented or DACAmented, we provide:

    • Educational access
    • Assistance with the admissions process
    • Resources including financial aid information
    • Campus referrals
    • Mental wellness
    • Advocacy
    • Support
       

    About the DACA Memorandum

    On January 20, 2021, President Biden issued a memorandum directing the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, to take appropriate action to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), consistent with applicable law. For more updated information please visit USCIS.

    What is DACA?

  • How to Apply to JJC if You Are Undocumented

    How to Apply if You Have a Social Security Number

    1. Complete a JJC application.
       

    JJC APPLICATION

    How to Apply if You Do Not Have a Social Security Number

    1. Call (815) 280-6709 or email cmas@jjc.edu for assistance.
    2. What to Do After You Apply: After 24-72 hours, set up your JJC username and password by visiting the ID/username/password page.
    3. Ask your high school to send us your official, sealed high school transcript or high school equivalency record (GED, HiSET, TASC). Transcripts can be sent to admissions@jjc.edu. 
    4. Visit our Admitted Students page and follow all of the steps.
       

    Puedes llamar (815) 280-6888 para recibir respuestas a tus preguntas en español.

    Información en Español

  • Financial Help for Undocumented Students

    Undocumented Students Can Receive Scholarships, Grants & Rise Act Funds

    Undocumented and DACA students may be eligible to receive privately funded merit-based scholarships or grant aid. They are also eligible to receive state aid by applying to the Rise Act through the Illinois Student Assistance Commission.

    Undocumented students are NOT eligible for federal financial aid through the FAFSA.

    Need help applying for financial assistance? Visit the Center for Multicultural Access and Success and ask to speak to an Undocumented Student Liaison. You can also call (815) 280-2829 or (815) 280-2631 to make an appointment.

    Guides To Assist You

    View available scholarships for undocumented students further down on this page.

  • Other Resources

    Other Resources to Help You

    • Mental Wellness 
    • Community Resources Drop-Down Menu: Spanish Community Center, South Suburban Immigrant Project (SSIP)
    • D.A.L.E. (Dreamers Advancing in Leadership and Education) is a support group that seeks to provide a safe space for raising awareness of the plight of undocumented and immigrant students, to connect students to resources and scholarship information, and empower students to develop leadership skills and self-efficacy.  
    • Advising and Supporting Undocumented Students Seminar- This seminar is a platform in creating awareness about the many challenges experienced by undocumented students at JJC. Participants will come away with practical tools to better serve undocumented students on their academic journey.   

Available Scholarships

Mentoring Services for All Students

  • Peer Mentor Program

    Sign Up for Peer Mentoring

    JJC's Peer Mentor program will pair you up with a fellow student who will quickly become one of your friends! Our peer mentors will talk to you about their experiences, challenges and celebrations at JJC, and you can talk to them about your own experiences as well.

    This program is designed to help new students learn about the school, show them where to go if they need help and more.

    Meet Our Peer Mentors

    Learn More About the Peer Mentor Program

  • Meet Our Staff

    DeAndre R. Butler, Senior Director
    Phone: (815) 280-2303
    Email: debutler@jjc.edu

    DeAndre R. Butler is a TRIO/Student Support Services alum from Northern Illinois University. At NIU, he achieved his bachelor’s degree in sociology. In 2007, Butler landed his first job in the higher education field at Colorado Technical University Online, as an Admissions Advisor. He decided to further his education in higher ed and student affairs and graduated with a master's degree in education from NIU in 2010. 

    Butler was born and raised in Harvey, Illinois and came from a first-generation and low-income household where he was the first in his family to graduate with his bachelor’s. He is very committed to his work with JJC Student Support Services. Butler is a strong believer in assisting students on being successful while attending JJC so that they can graduate and transfer. He is actively involved with organizations, clubs and committees for the benefit of his students and department.

    Michelle Roman Garcia
    Michelle Roman-Garcia, Director 
    Phone: (815) 280-6680
    Email: mroman@jjc.edu

    Michelle Roman-Garcia serves as the Director of the Center of Multicultural Access and Success (CMAS). In this capacity, she leads the CMAS recruitment and retention efforts for multicultural and undocumented students as well as advocacy and academic support. Roman-Garcia and her team also develop targeted minority outreach programs such as the annual Black Teen Summit and Latino Empowerment Conference. She is the Chair for both the Hispanic-Serving Institution Sub-committee of the President’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council and the Undocumented Student Taskforce which seeks to develop programs and implement policies to ensure the educational access and academic success of Dreamers.

    Roman-Garcia has more than 28 years of experience in higher education working first in the area of Admissions at both Aurora University and Illinois Benedictine University. Prior to Joliet Junior College, she was employed at College of DuPage (COD) where she first worked as a Project Manager for Minority Recruitment, then as an Academic Adviser, Outreach and Retention Specialist for the Multicultural Center, to lastly, Coordinator of the ENLACE (Engaging Latino Communities for Education) program. Roman-Garcia holds a Master’s Degree from Northeastern Illinois University in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s Degree from Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois. Roman-Garcia, whose parents migrated to the U.S. from Puerto Rico, currently resides in Glen Ellyn. Roman-Garcia habla español.


    Veronica Mascote
    Veronica Cabrera, Success Coach
    Phone: (815) 280-2829
    Email: vmascote@jjc.edu

    Veronica Cabrera is a proud JJC alum. After earning her associate of arts degree in education at JJC, she attended Northern Illinois University and obtained both a bachelor of arts in psychology and a bachelor of science in communicative disorders (with an emphasis in speech language pathology). She also earned her masters of science from NIU in higher education and student affairs.

    Before her current role at JJC, Cabrera was an intern for the Counseling Office. She was also a graduate assistant at Waubonsee Community College where she worked with student leaders, staff and faculty to plan, organize, promote, supervise and evaluate Student Life programs, events, and activities.

    Cabrera was a first generation college student herself. She understands the difficulties and fears first year students face when attending college.

    In addition to her work in higher education, Cabrera volunteers her time to be a catechist at her church. When she is not at work, she can usually be found watching Netflix, listening to music, taking long walks and spending time with her family and friends. Cabrera is an active member of NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) and ILACHE (Illinois Latino Council on Higher Education). In addition, she is also a proud Safe Zone Ally at JJC. Cabrera habla español.



    LeeAntwann McCline, Success Coach
    Phone: (815) 280-2631
    Email: lmccline@jjc.edu

    LeeAntwann McCline is from Robbins, Illinois and graduated from Western Illinois University with a bachelor's of arts in communication. He is also a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated. He earned his master of science degree in higher education from Eastern Illinois University and a master of business administration from Purdue University. Working with students from various backgrounds has always been a passion of his. It is his belief that if he is able to help a single student reach their academic potential, then he has done his job as a higher education professional. McCline is also a die-hard Packer's fan.

     Edith Martinez
    Edith Martinez, Secretary for the Center of Multicultural Access & Success
    Email: edith.martinez@jjc.edu
    Phone: (815) 280-6709

    Edith Martinez is a lifetime resident of Joliet. She has more than 20 years of experience in early education (K-12). She has a certificate of translating and interpreting in Spanish from Triton College and previously attended JJC. Martinez habla español.

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