IRSRC (Immigrant and Refugee Student Resource Center)

About the IRSRC

The Immigrant and Refugee Student Resource Center (IRSRC) at Pima Community College partners with the College and community to gather resources to bridge the information gap and empower immigrant and refugee students to achieve their educational dreams.

The Immigrant and Refugee Student Resource Center was founded in 2019. Through the hard work and tireless efforts of students, community members, and the support of leadership, the IRSRC was created to address the pressing need to provide information, resources, and training for students, faculty, administrators, and staff at Pima Community College.

We are a team of Pima Community College staff and students who want to support immigrants and refugees in furthering their education at Pima Community College. All students can attend college regardless of their status. Are you a student at Pima already? We want to support you!

Join our efforts

• Jobs
• Internships
• Volunteerism

We are here to

• Distribute information and expand PCC community knowledge regarding immigrant/DACA/Refugee issues and experiences in post-secondary education.
• Assist with development, delivery and distribution of information and workshops about immigrant issues to faculty, staff and other educators.
• Provide academic support and information about college processes and community resources available to immigrant and refugee students.
• Present to student groups, offer individual appointments, meet with family members and hold counselor support at our office

Resources

PCC IRSRC wants to connect immigrant and refugee students to resources that help them start and finish their college careers, regardless of their immigration status. The best place to start is contacting the IRSRC office.

Below are tips to help connect you to information.

DACAmented and Undocumented Immigrant students

• Do not fill out FAFSA if you are an undocumented individual. It is important to note, undocumented students are not eligible for Federal or Arizona State student aid.
• "Need" for scholarships can be determined through ways other than the FAFSA. Contact the IRSRC for suggestions.
• The University of Arizona Immigrant Student Resource Center has worked with the Tucson Community Rapid Response network to compile some valuable information to help you know your rights. We can also send you a card with this information in Spanish or English to carry in your wallet. Contact the Pima IRSRC to request this resource.
• We support Permanent Residents and students from mixed immigration status families. If you are a student who is a Legal Permanent Resident, please contact our office so we can talk about resources and find the best ways to support you. We know that even though you can access public financial aid, navigating college may be difficult. We are here to help.
• DACA students attend colleges and universities across the U.S., including Pima. The IRSRC can help you apply to Pima.
• Our IRSRC team can help you find resources to complete your DACA renewal application.

Refugee Students

• Individuals with Refugee or Asylee status are entitled to need-based financial aid through FAFSA and state grants. Here are tips for completing the FAFSA.

How to pay for college

This is a quick visual aid to see where you stand with federal and private aid. If you have questions, give us a call or email. We'd love to help you find ways to pay for your school.

Type of Aid	U.S. Citizen	Legal Permanent Resident	Visa Holder	DACA Recipient	Undocumented
Federal Aid	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
State Aid	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
In-State Tuition	Yes, If student meet residency  requirements	Yes, If student meet residency  requirements	Depends on visa type	No, not in Arizona	No, not in Arizona
Private Loans	Yes	Yes	Yes, But may  need U.S. Citizen or permanent resident cosigner	Yes, But may  need U.S. Citizen or permanent resident cosigner	Yes, But may  need U.S. Citizen or permanent resident cosigner
Government  Loans	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Government  Grants	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Institutional Aid	Yes	Yes	Depends on visa type and the school they attend	Depends on  school student attends	Depends on  school student attends
Federal Work-Study	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Private Scholarships	Depends on eligibility requirements	Depends on eligibility requirements	Depends on eligibility requirements	Depends on eligibility requirements	Depends on eligibility requirements

Scholarship Resources

Here are some websites you can use to research scholarships. Remember, never pay to apply for a scholarship or financial aid. Have more questions? Contact us so we can help.

IRSRC Contact Information

• Email: pcc-irsrc@pima.edu
• Phone: 520-206-7312