FAQ

I am an undocumented student looking to apply to UConn, how does the application process work for me? 

The admission process does not vary based upon citizenship and/or immigration status. All applicants must submit an online application, official transcripts, test scores, and optional letters of recommendation. A social security number is not required in the application for admission and should not be prompted by the application when selecting non-U.S. citizens.

For more information please visit https://admissions.uconn.edu/undocumented-students

Am I eligible for financial aid at UConn? 

Due to recently passed Connecticut legislation, undocumented students who are Connecticut residents may be eligible for institutional aid. For information on this process, please visit  https://financialaid.uconn.edu/undocumented_students/ 

 Is UConn a “sanctuary campus”? 

The term “sanctuary” has different interpretations and a broad range of meanings. A campus labeling itself as a “sanctuary” without providing details about how students can be protected may be dangerous and misleading. At the University of Connecticut, we do not want to mislead students about what protections our campus is able to provide. Also, as a state agency, UConn does not have the authority to unilaterally apply this designation to itself. Therefore, we are not labeling our campuses as “sanctuaries” as we do not want to provide students with a false sense of security. 

However; UConn has policies and practices in place that are similar to policies adopted by sanctuary cities around the United States and that seek to make students feel more safe and secure on campus. These policies include: 

  • UConn’s Police Department will not question the immigration status of those who seek their assistance
  • UConn’s Police will not detain individuals based on civil immigration holds 
  • UConn will commit to confidentiality of records that include immigration status
  • UConn issued photographic identification to facilitate access to services 

Will UConn release my information to immigration authorities? 

Under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) all students are entitled to privacy regardless of immigration status. Education records, which are broadly defined as records related to a student and maintained by the institution, cannot generally be disclosed without a judicial warrant, subpoena, court order, or student consent. UConn shall continue to uphold FERPA and deny requests for student information that are not accompanied by a judicial warrant, court-ordered subpoena, or student consent.

  • It is important to note that FERPA designates certain information contained in a student's record as "directory information." FERPA grants the University the right to disclose "directory information" to anyone, without consent from the student. If you would like to withhold your directory information or have any questions, please contact Jennifer Gattilia Tibbetts at Jennifer.Gattilia@uconn.edu or by phone (860) 486-6221
  • For more information about the FERPA policy please follow this link https://policy.uconn.edu/2011/05/24/ferpa-policy/

What is the protocol for campus police interacting with undocumented students?

“On Dec. 2, 2016, UConn Police Chief Hans Rhynhart adopted a formal policy and released an order to all UConn officers that affirm longstanding department practice with respect to issues related to immigration enforcement. The policy, which applies to all UConn campuses and police officers, states that:

  1. UConn Police will not inquire about individuals’ immigration status during the course of their work, including crime victims, witnesses, and anyone who seeks assistance from the police;
  2. No one will be detained by UConn Police, based solely on the belief that they are not in the U.S. legally or on the basis of a civil immigration violation;
  3. UConn Police will not make arrests based on administrative warrants issued by Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) or other agencies for arrest or removal of an individual, including administrative immigration warrants and deportation orders.
  4. Information regarding a person’s immigration status contained within the records of the UConn Police Department will not be disclosed unless such disclosure is compelled by law.”

This excerpt came from President Herbst message to the University community Dec. 6.