One million degrees stands with our scholars & partners
At One Million Degrees, our highest priority is the well-being of our scholars and the strength of our partnerships. We recognize that this is a complicated time for many in our community, bringing uncertainty and concerns that impact both daily life and future plans. We want to reaffirm our unwavering commitment to supporting our scholars in every way possible, ensuring they feel safe, valued, and empowered to continue their educational journeys.
Currently, we are staying informed on policies and developments that may impact our scholars, staff, and partners, so we can provide the most relevant support and resources. We are also standing in strong partnership with City Colleges of Chicago and our broader network to ensure we are taking the right steps to protect the health, safety, and success of our community, and we will continue to listen, learn, and respond with care—prioritizing what matters most to our scholars and those who stand with and beside them.
In that spirit, we want to share an important message from our partners at City Colleges of Chicago, who have outlined the steps they are taking to create a welcoming, supportive environment for all students. Their message is included in full below.
A MESSAGE FROM CITY COLLEGES OF CHICAGO
A WELCOMING CITY & COLLEGE COMMUNITY: WHAT IT MEANS
City Colleges is proud to be located in Chicago, which, by ordinance, is a welcoming city. That means that the City will not ask about an individual’s immigration status, disclose that information to authorities, or deny City services based on immigration status. Similarly, City Colleges of Chicago is a welcoming college community, and our colleges do not ask about a student’s immigration status.
Our colleges celebrate the unique backgrounds, rich cultures, and diverse experiences that each student, faculty, and staff member brings to our campus. We are committed to the success of each of our students and to the safety and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff.
CITY COLLEGES’ POLICY RELATED TO OUTSIDE LAW ENFORCEMENT:
Consistent with the City of Chicago’s Welcoming City Ordinance, City Colleges does not coordinate with federal immigration officials, and will not admit immigration officials to non-public areas of the campus based upon an administrative warrant, an ICE detainer, or other document issued by an agency enforcing civil immigration law. Federal immigration officials would need to present a criminal arrest warrant signed by a judge and verified by the Chicago Police Department before campus access is permitted.
The staff member responsible for dealing with any law enforcement officials is the college’s Director or Assistant Director of Security. Faculty, other staff, and students should never deal with non-CCC law enforcement themselves, but must seek out their college Director or Assistant Director of Security and allow them to take the lead.
If law enforcement officials were to come to the college, they would be asked to remain near the college entrance/in the lobby while the Director of Security or Assistant Director is summoned to address the matter.
More information about general campus safety procedures can be found here.
CITY COLLEGES’ POLICY RELATED TO STUDENT INFORMATION:
City Colleges follows the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA), which affords students certain rights to protect the privacy of their educational records.
City Colleges does not provide access to FERPA-protected student information, except in the event of a health or safety emergency or as otherwise legally mandated.
More information about FERPA, including which information is protected and how to restrict access to directory-level information, can be found here.
SUPPORT RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS:
We recognize this is a period of heightened concern for members of our community, and we are here to support you. We encourage you to take advantage of this free assistance:
- CCC Wellness Centers: Mental health is critically important, and City Colleges has significantly increased our investment in wellness services. City Colleges Wellness Centers are located at each City College and online, and are the place to bring any personal, social, and emotional concerns. A list of wellness center locations can be found here: www.ccc.edu/wellnesscenter.
- CCC Undocumented Student Liaisons: Each City College offers a liaison for undocumented student and ally support; the contact information for the liaisons is found here.
- Local Groups Providing Immigration Assistance: The non-profit Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) has compiled this list of groups providing assistance with immigration matters.
- Know Your Rights Trainings: External non-profit organizations are currently offering a series of Know Your Rights trainings for undocumented students and allies. A quick reference handout created by ICIRR is available here. More details on trainings will be shared as they are scheduled in the weeks ahead.
Other resources can be found on the following websites:
Education remains the best path to success, and our colleges are welcoming communities ready to support you in reaching your college and career goals.
If you have any questions or need support, we encourage you to reach out to a trusted member of your college Wellness Center staff or your college’s undocumented student liaison.
