Message from SLCC President: Fifth Circuit Decision on DACA

We are disappointed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit's decision earlier this week that has ruled the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program unconstitutional. DACA provides work permits and deportation protection for nearly 600,000 individuals who migrated to the U.S. as children. The ruling continues to leave the future of the DACA up in the air. Wednesday’s ruling sends the case back to Texas-based U.S. District Judge Andrew Hansen for a new look at the rule issued by the Biden Administration in late August.

As Utah’s most diverse college, we reaffirm our ongoing support for all students, faculty and staff, including those who are undocumented. Our goal is to support the success of everyone employed by and attending SLCC, whether or not DACA impacts them, and connect them with employment, educational and other services they need to achieve their dreams.

We want to remind our community that despite this detrimental outcome, students can still pursue higher education in Utah and benefit from several resources at SLCC and Salt Lake Technical College (SLTech). For more information, here is an infographic with the 5 things Dreamers and Allies should know about DACA.

One of SLCC’s best student resources is our Dream Center. Housed at our West Valley Center, the Dream Center connects our undocumented students with resources and provides specialized advising and scholarship support. Dream Center staff are currently available to meet with those affected by the recent DACA decision in person or via telephone or video conference.

To schedule a meeting with the Dream Center, reach out to Brenda Santoyo at brenda.santoyo@slcc.edu. If you are interested in volunteering your time to support the Dream Center, please reach out to Brenda. You can also support our students by donating to the Bruin Dreams Scholarship and/or the Undocumented Student Emergency Fund:

We want to remind SLCC employees that we have launched a DACA Renewal Reimbursement Program. For more information about this process, please review the communication VP Martin sent to all employees on September 15 or email daca@slcc.edu.

While the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit's decision represents another delay in a final decision for those directly impacted by DACA, SLCC remains committed to the success of all our undocumented immigrant students and employees and hopes that our nation can soon secure a more permanent solution.

Deneece G. Huftalin

President, Salt Lake Community College

Comments

Rev Up Your Future at SLCC Annuals Hop into College

SLCC West Valley Center will be opening its doors on Friday, August 2, from 6-9 pm for their annual lowrider event that celebrates the automotive culture and welcomes current, past, and future Bruins into the SLCC community. This unique event allows lowriders to showcase their vehicles and for spectators to witness the creativity, craftsmanship, and passion that goes into a lowrider car. From the sleek custom paint jobs to the impressive hydraulics showcased at the hop-off, attendees get immersed in the vibrant culture created by SLCC West Valley’s community. Beyond the car show, Hop into College provides prospective students and their families the opportunity to explore SLCC, engage with their future peers, staff and faculty and obtain valuable insight into the degrees and programs offered. Furthermore, the community is provided with countless beneficial resources not only as an SLCC student but as a community member. Whether interested in learning more about the lowrider community o...

The Center for Prior Learning Receives an Honorable Mention

Today, SLCC's Credit for Prior Learning department received an Honorable Mention from the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL ) and the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education for its intentional approach and for expanding student options to receive credit for prior learning. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) allows students to obtain college credit for knowledge and skills acquired outside of the traditional academic environment. This is exceptionally beneficial for adult learners, who, according to CAEL, have a 17% higher chance of graduating compared to those adults who don’t earn credits through prior learning programs. The CPL department at SLCC was created in 2020 and since then the volume of students served has grown as the department continues to expand. To be eligible for CPL, students must be working towards a degree, certificate, or apprenticeship. Director of Credit for Prior Learning at SLCC, Andrea Tipton, mentioned fee...

Board of Higher Ed names Gregory F. Peterson 9th SLCC President

The Utah Board of Higher Education unanimously selected Gregory F. Peterson, Ed.D., as the ninth president of Salt Lake Community College today, following an extensive national search. Peterson will assume the position on July 1, 2024, and succeeds Deneece G. Huftalin, who served as president from 2014-2024. “I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve as Salt Lake Community College’s next president, and I look forward to reinforcing SLCC’s commitment to providing educational pathways for transfer and workforce that improve the lives of every member of our community,” Peterson said. “SLCC has an amazing future ahead, and I couldn’t be prouder to be a part of that journey.” As part of its delegated duties and responsibilities, the SLCC Board of Trustees named an 11-member committee in December 2023 to conduct a national search for the next president of SLCC. The committee is composed of representatives from the Utah Board of Higher Education and SLCC trustees, facul...

Official SLCC Blog

Search This Blog