Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Students
What is DACA?
"On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland Security announced that certain people who came to the United States as children and meet several guidelines may request consideration of deferred action for a period of two years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful status."
DACA and Tennessee Tech
Those who are granted "deferred action" status are eligible for work authorization. This deferred action status does not confer "lawful presence" status under federal law or Tennessee state law. Specifically, "deferred action status" does not satisfy the requirement of "lawful presence" under the EVEA. For more information on Tennessee Tech's EVEA policy please visit the EVEA page.
Can DACA recipients attend Tennessee Tech?
Yes, any person who meets Tennessee Tech's admission requirements is eligible to attend.
Which application does a DACA student complete?
Due to the nature of the DACA program people under this category wishing to attend Tennessee Tech will need to complete an International Application. For those that have never attend a College or University before you will need to complete an "International Freshman" Application. For those that have attended a College or University before you will need to complete the "International Transfer" Application.
What is my tuition rate as a DACA student?
DACA students are considered International Students at Tennessee Tech and thus will be required to pay Out-of-State Tuition. Out-of-State Tuition consists of both In-State tuition rate and Out-of-State tuition rate. For more information about Tennessee Tech's tuition amount please visit the Bursar page.
Can I apply for Federal Aid?
As a DACA student you are not eligible to file for any federal aid programs.
Are there scholarships available to DACA students?
Yes, DACA students are eligible for many private foundation based scholarships that do not require any proof of citizenship. These scholarships can be found using Google. DACA students are not eligible for Tennessee Tech's International Scholarship. Here is a short list of available scholarships.
For further questions about the DACA program as it relates to Tennessee Tech feel free to contact the International Programs Office 931-372-3634. Please note that if your status ever changes to one recognized by EVEA for In-State Residency you can file to have your tuition rate changed for the following semester.
