DPF – UCI DREAM Center

Important Announcements:

The DREAM Project Fellowship (DPF) for the Academic Year 2024-2025 Student and Mentor Applications are now CLOSED!

What is the DREAM Project Fellowship?

The DREAM Project Fellowship is a year-long fellowship that offers hands-on experience, professional development training, community support, and networking opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students regardless of immigration status.

Diverse project sites are led by faculty and staff from UCI departments who are dedicated to fostering meaningful mentorship opportunities.

Fellows are matched with a project site to gain experience in their field of interest and develop their professional skills.

*We strongly encourage undocumented students without a work authorization permit to apply for this fellowship*

Our Fellowship Achievements:

Featured Articles:

Working To Make Dreams a Reality

“Building opportunities for students regardless of immigration status has been a collective effort of the DREAM Center, campus partners, mentors, and student advocacy,” Hernandez says. “We don’t want the DREAM Center to be the only location where students feel safe and welcome. We love when they feel safe across campus in multiple offices.”

Read more about DPF and learn from our Assistant Director, Yadira Hernandez, and our DPF fellow as they share their experiences with DPF.

LA Times - Stories from the Sea

Learn more about the "Stories from the Sea" which is one of 50 DREAM Projects at UCI.

The project is a collaboration between the Newport Beach Public Library Foundation, California Humanities, UCI Center for Storytelling, UCI Libraries, and the UCI Humanities Center.

Application Process:

For STUDENTS:

Application Process for Students

Matching Process for Students

Matching Process:

Students will hear from us during the summer before the academic year beings. If you haven't heard from us by then, please be in touch.

At that time, we will give all applicants an update on their application and invite applicants to join us for interviews.

Project Sites will extend an invitation to students and you must participate in the interviews. You will be interviewing with project mentors/sites. Remember that you are also interviewing Project Mentors/Sites, and thus we encourage you to ask questions as well.

The matching process is intended to match fellow and project mentor’s best fit for each other. Interviews will happen through out the summer.

Student Applicants will have access to a Live Private Spreadsheet of Project Sites
- Applicants may select up to 5 project sites
Project sites will invite applicants to interview with them
- 2 weeks to conduct interviews
- Applicants must participate in interview process

Fellowship Offers Sent: Beginning of September

Fellows Will Accept/Respectfully Reject Offer: Deadline TBD

Final Fellowship Matches Announcement: Announcement TBD

For MENTORS:

Application Process in Spring

Matching Process in Summer

Matching Process:

Review applicants and select top applicants
- Project mentors will review student applications and select applicants to interview
Invite students for an interview
- Project Mentors will invite students to participate in interviews
  - Students will rank their project sites.
    - NOTE: We cannot guarantee that you will be placed with your top choice, but this ranking can help you to receive an interview with your top project sites
  - Interviews will be conducted by the Project Mentors
- Interviews Cycle: DATES TBD
  - Interviews are happening during this time
  - Students must participate in the interview process to continue being considered for the fellowship

Final candidate (s) names are sent to the DREAM Center
- Fellowship Invitations Sent to Fellows
  - The Dream Center will email/call students who are offered a spot in the DPF program, mentors will be cc'd in the email
- Fellow Will Accept/Respectfully Reject Fellowship Offer
  - Students must respond within 3 business days after receiving their fellowship offer
Final Fellowship Matches Announcement

Onboarding Process in Fall

Sign MOU with KFS Account Information (Summer)
- Project Mentors must sign an MOU
DREAM Center Educator Series (Summer)
- Project mentors are required to attend our Educator Series held by the DREAM Center over the summer
- if a fellow has more than 2 or more project mentors, they must all attend the training
- Date: TBD
Welcome Week DPF Orientation and Kick-Off
- Join us for our annual DPF Welcome!
- Get to know other project mentors and their fellows
- Build COMMUNITY
Onboard student to the site - Beginning of Fall quarter
- Welcome your student to your project site

Mentor Requirements

Mentor fellow(s) on weekly basis (Fall, Winter, Spring)
- Join our Saturday Academies (Optional)
- View program curriculum to see what our students are learning
Project Mentor Check-ins
- Join our Project Mentor check-ins to hear from other project mentors
Annual DPF Symposium
- Our fellows will present their year-long project during our DPF Symposium at the Rising Together Thriving Together Conference
- Check out recorded examples below from 2019-2020 and 2020-2021

F.A.Q.

F.A.Q. for Students F.A.Q. for Mentors

F.A.Q. for Students

How do I apply as a fellow?
- Submit application form by due date and send updated resume to our DPF Team
Will the fellowship affect my financial aid?
- The DPF award is a scholarship that is considered financial assistance used toward the cost of attendance.
- The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships typically reduces an offered need-based loan or a work study offer to accommodate a scholarship in a student's budget
How will I receive the funding?
- DPF Funding will be sent out through Financial Aid. Please check your financial aid portal
How do I qualify for the program?
- Must be non U.S. citizen & AB 540 eligible
- Open to undocumented students who don’t have
  work authorization
- UCI enrolled undergraduate & graduate students
Am I required to attend all the workshops and seminars with the DREAM Center?
- All fellows are required to attend year round workshop and seminars
When will I get notified of my match?
- You will be notified of your match after our interview process has ended in the summer.
When will I see the funding appear in my financial aid portal?
- Your funding should appear in your financial aid portal within the first two weeks of each quarter.

F.A.Q. for Mentors

How do I apply as a mentor?
- We encourage the project mentor (who will supervise the fellow) to
  complete the application form (i.e. general scope of project)
- Submit one application form per fellowship
  - Note any required trainings & background checks (i.e. lab or vulnerable populations)
What are the roles and responsibilities of a project mentor?
- Required to attend an UndocuAlly Training held by the DREAM Center over the summer
- Required to meet on a weekly basis with their fellow(s) and provide support
- Invited to join quarterly Saturday Academies
- Invited to join annual Rising Together, Thriving Together Conference in the Spring
Can a project site have two mentors?
- Yes, a project site can have more than one mentor
- If a fellow has more than 2 or more project mentors, they must all attend the Educator Series over the summer
Can a project site have multiple fellows?
- Yes, a project site can have multiple fellows
Can I use federal funding for the fellowship?
- No, only non-federal funds can be used
Will the student receive all the funds from my department/unit?
- Yes, if you have indicated your department/unit can fully fund your student
- Project sites commit to funding $1,600 a quarter for three quarters for a total $4,800
- Funds will be transferred to Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships and distributed to fellow in the form of scholarship
Am I required to complete the Educator Series and other events with the DREAM Center?
- Yes, project mentors are required to attend an UndocuAlly Training held by the DREAM Center over the summer
  - If a fellow has more than 2 or more project mentors, they must all attend the Educator Series
- Mentors are invited to join Saturday Academies and our Annual Rising Together, Thriving Together Conference in the Spring

Project Spotlights

DPF Symposium 2020-2021

Creating Educational Resources for Different Communities

In this session, you will hear from a promising group of young scholars working to create educational resources for students and families from underrepresented and under-resourced communities. Their work supports learners across a wide age range from early childhood to college students preparing for graduate school and takes a variety of approaches including family engagement, school-based intervention, data analysis, workshops, mentoring programs, and database construction. The common thread that ties this work together is the commitment to enhance learning and create supportive environments for children, families, and students from historically marginalized communities.

View recording here: https://youtu.be/tCQZBcSwH9w

Undocumented Pipeline Initiatives at UCI

Learn about all the ways undocumented students reimagine and made possible new ways to create access and inclusion campus-wide initiatives for undocumented students through Admissions, Enrollment, School of Engineering, and Cross-Cultural Center.

View recording here: https://youtu.be/OCe2xAyfnvk

A Glance At Our Past Curriculum

Fall Curriculum: Critical Race Theory and Self-Authorship

Critical Race Theory Presentation by Dr. Jose Aguilar-Hernandez

Dr. Jose Aguilar-Hernandez from Cal Poly Pomona presented to our fellows on Critical Race Theory.

Dr. Aguilar-Hernández is the proud son of immigrant farmworkers from Zacatecas, México. He grew up in Ventura County and transferred from Moorpark Community College to UCLA where he earned a B.A. in Chicana/o Studies and History. Dr. Aguilar-Hernández earned an M.A. in Latin American Studies and a Ph.D. in Education from UCLA. His dissertation, Si Se Pudo!: A Critical Race History of the Movements for Chicana and Chicano Studies at UCLA, 1990-1993, is about the inception (and more) of the Chicana/o Studies Departmentalization process at UCLA. During his five years as a doctoral student, Aguilar-Hernández served as a Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in the UCLA César E. Chávez Department of Chicana and Chicano Studies, and additionally, he also taught courses in Chicana/o Studies at California State University, Northridge and CalState LA.

Strength Analysis by the Center for Student Leadership

Scholarships Presentation from Our DPF Fellow

Scholars In Residence Workshop

Community Building Beyond UCI

UndocuProfessionals Workshop Series: From Surviving to Thriving in Education, Life, and Career

Our fellows had the opportunity to attend a 6 workshop series hosted by UndocuProfessionals, a community-based network supporting students who are transitioning into professional roles.

Fellows were able to meet Undocumented Professionals who shared their insight, knowledge, skills, and experiences as they navigated their educational and professional journey undocumented.

Winter Curriculum: Self-Advocacy and Networking

Guest Speakers

Mock Advocacy Meetings Role Playing

Interviewing Preparation Workshop

Mock-Interviews