MAGIS SCHOLARSHIP INITIATIVE
TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ……………............................................1 What is the MAGIS Scholarship Fund?
Social Justice through Art…………………………….2 What our logo represents
Our Story…………………………………………….….3 5 Steps taken in order to pass the Initiative
Recipients………………………………………..……..4 Who does this scholarship benefit?
FAQ……………………………………………………..5 Frequently Asked Questions
Moving Forward………………………………….…….6 Contact Us
INTRODUCTION | What is the MAGIS Scholarship Fund?
It is estimated that there are 1.8 million undocumented young people residing in the United States who could greatly benefit from a college education. An ‘undocumented student’ can best be described as a person living in the United States without U.S. citizenship or the authorization of the federal government. Many such individuals were brought to the United States as children by parents who either overstayed a legal visa or entered the country without inspection. Undocumented students thus experience the unique challenge of not having had a voice in their migration process. Since undocumented students are guaranteed a free K-12 public education under the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment pursuant to the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Plyer v. Doe, many do not learn of their status until adolescence when they prepare to apply for a driver’s license and/or apply to college. Although many of these students have spent the majority of their lives in the United States and proudly call this nation their home, they do not qualify for federal financial aid and only qualify for in-state tuition in select states. In the summer of 2014, the Student Government of Loyola Chicago (SGLC) partnered with the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) to open up a scholarship fund for undocumented Loyola undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need but do not qualify for federal financial aid. After several subsequent meetings with Loyola’s Donor Relations Office and Office of Financial Aid and the necessary research that followed, the Magis Scholarship Fund officially opened up in the fall of 2014. Initially, the goal was to solely open up the scholarship account to deposit funds previously fundraised by LASO. However, the next goal was to get enough money in the scholarship account for it to be “endowed” – that is, enough money for alumni, faculty, staff, and community leaders to be able to directly donate to the scholarship in an effort to unite the entire Loyola Community around this initiative. While on-campus fundraising efforts took place by various student organizations, greater crosscampus collaboration was necessary. So, in the spirit of democracy, the next plan of action quickly surrounded the idea of an on-campus vote through the SGLC. With this referendum vote, Loyola undergraduate students had the opportunity to decide whether or not they agreed to add an additional $2.50 each semester to the Student Development fee to support undocumented Loyola undergraduate students who demonstrated financial need but do not qualify for federal financial aid. With a 10,000 undergraduate population, this would equate to at least $50,000 each year dedicated to supporting our undocumented sisters and brothers. In 2015, it passed.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE THROUGH ART
| What our logo represents
A. The Butterfly - Over time, the butterfly has become a symbol of the immigrant and/or undocumented person as butterflies are often associated with a sense of fluid and peaceful migration.
B. Hands - Situated below the butterfly are two hands that are upholding and supporting it. These hands are to represent the entire Loyola University Chicago community. In the world of university affairs, many people are familiar with the college admissions process. Each year, applicants dream of the day that they are accepted into the University of their choice. In this case, there is a clear difference between being accepted at a university and being embraced. With the support of the entire Loyola community and the creation of this scholarship, undocumented Loyola students have the opportunity to be embraced from the very beginning of their Loyola Experience.
C. MAGIS – The Name that Passes the Bar - Being that Chicago is a city of immigrants, undocumented students could be Hispanic or Latino, but they could also very well be African, Arab, Asian, or European. So, instead of attributing this effort to solely the Latino community, both LASO and SGLC decided to give it a name that was uniquely true to our identity at a Jesuit, Catholic university MAGIS. This Jesuit tenet translates directly in Latin to “the more” or specifically, “the more universal good.” Originally, this name was adopted with the intention of the student body challenging our community to do “the more” for undocumented students. However, what it has gradually become is an understanding that if given the opportunity, this population of undocumented students can achieve the more universal good even though they are facing countless societal barriers.
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OUR STORY
| 5 Steps taken in order to pass the Initiative
1. Establish the Guidelines & Criteria for the Scholarship - Applicants must demonstrate financial need, display academic merit through a 3.0 GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale, and exhibit leadership potential and a strong desire to pay it forward. The scholarship will be funded to one or more students each year, and will be available to full-time, undergraduate students seeking their first degree who are ineligible for federal financial aid (FAFSA). 2. Research how much money is required to “endow” the scholarship - At Loyola University Chicago, $25,000 is the minimum amount of funds necessary to “endow” a scholarship. No matter the minimum, this number is crucial to an effort such as this one as it provides an idea of what the goal should be when promoting the scholarship. In this case, the most attractive part about a scholarship being endowed is that it opens up the opportunity for alumni, faculty, staff, and community leaders to also contribute to the fund either with direct donations or through tax credit incentives. 3. Host public forums on supporting Undocumented Students in HigherEd - Forum open to students, university administrators, and community partners (everyone!) - An initiative such as this one is only possible with overwhelming support from the student community – whether immediate or gradual. Here at Loyola, Registered Student Organizations (clubs) shape a large portion of on-and-off-campus student life through their own respective activities and interests.
4. Navigate University legislative process in order to promote the scholarship - Since this was entirely a student effort, we decided to collaborate with the Student Government in order to establish and promote the scholarship fund. - Deliver classroom presentations across the university – no matter the field of study.
5. If successful, then publicize it - Since this effort is especially unique in its nature, it is important to spread the word from top-to-bottom. - Media outlets across the country are continuously searching for a positive story- we believe that the Magis Scholarship Initiative fulfills this need! - Once the story is publicized, then other universities have the opportunity to create their own scholarship effort on their respective campus with greater guidance.
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RECIPIENTS
| Who does this scholarship benefit?
In January of 2013, the University Presidential leadership of the Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities (AJCU) released a statement in regards to supporting Undocumented students in Higher Education. The third and final point read: The scholarship recipients are not the sole beneficiaries of an initiative such as this one. While undocumented Loyola students are the sole recipients of the financial aspect of this effort, the Magis Scholarship Initiative holds a great emphasis on educating the entire Loyola Community and thus, benefits everyone. By giving students, alumni, faculty, and staff a clear opportunity to address one of the greatest social justice issues of our time, we not only fulfill our university’s mission, but we uphold the values of the Society of Jesus.
“Jesuit colleges and universities are morally committed environments, where our students are inspired and encouraged to understand and address issues of justice, fairness, political involvement, and a preferential option for those whom society has marginalized.�
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FAQ | Frequently Asked Questions Q: What was the formal referendum question on the spring 2015 Elections ballot? A: “Do you approve of the addition of $2.50 each semester to the Student Development fee to support undocumented Loyola undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need but do not qualify for federal financial aid (FAFSA)?� Q: When will the scholarship go into effect? A: After passing with a 70% majority approval, the SGLC intends to present the scholarship proposal to the Loyola University Chicago Board of Trustees. However, since the annual budget is not determined until December of each academic year, the scholarship may not go into effect until the fall semester of 2016. Q: How many students will the scholarship fund? A: $2.50 multiplied by the 10,000+ undergraduate students each semester will equate to $50,000 after one year. With this funding alone, it will be able to provide either five $10,000 partial scholarships or ten $5,000 scholarships. Since undocumented students are ineligible for federal financial aid, the initial goal of the student-funded portion of the scholarship is to match what the federal government would offer by requesting the applicant to submit forms proving that they demonstrate financial need (tax forms, sources of income, etc.). Q: $50,000 is hardly enough to fund even one student at Loyola. How does this fund make a tangible difference in supporting undocumented students? A: Quite possibly the best part about this effort is that it will be a demonstration of commitment from just the Loyola undergraduate body. Now that the student body has initiated the funding, the doors are open for alumni, faculty, staff, and community leaders to continue contributing to this initiative. Since this is truly an all-hands-on-deck effort, more students could potentially be funded in the future as more donations are received. Q: How many undocumented students currently attend Loyola? A: Since Loyola, a private university, does not require students to share their citizenship status in their initial admissions application, it is unknown how many undocumented students are currently enrolled at Loyola. However, the Loyola Stritch School of Medicine proudly became the first medical school in the nation to publicly admit DACA students through a financial loan program with the Illinois State government. One of the main arguments behind this scholarship initiative is that you need your undergraduate degree before you can go to medical school. Q: Is it fair that this scholarship only benefits one particular population of students? A: While this single scholarship only benefits undocumented students, the majority of other scholarships already established exclude undocumented students who cannot fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form.
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Q: What good is it receiving a world-class education at Loyola if you cannot legally work after receiving your degree? A: It should go without saying that it is difficult for any college graduate to find work after graduation. However, one of the greatest misconceptions is that all undocumented people cannot legally work in the United States. After Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) was implemented in June of 2012, a specific group of young undocumented students are now eligible for a two-year renewable work permit allowing them lawful presence under this presidential mandate. It is because of the DACA program that undocumented students can now apply to hold an on-campus job such as a Resident Assistantship, Research Fellowship, etc. Q: Why should non-immigrant students support an initiative such as this one? A: Other students - particularly non-immigrant students - should support an initiative such as this one because every student deserves access to a college education - no matter their citizenship status. In one way or another, we all come from an immigrant background and it is our duty to advocate for our undocumented sisters and brothers who are more than deserving of a university education.
MOVING FORWARD | Contact Us Facebook.com/MagisScholarsFund
MagisFundLUC@gmail.com
@SGLoyolaChicago
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