Dreambuilders: Undocucompetence Among Educators In The North Carolina Community College System

Previous research studies have demonstrated the impact of validation by institutional agents, on the success of undocumented students. How do community college educators within NC provide support and validation for this student population? Do they have the knowledge to assist undocumented students to effectively cope with the challenges they face? Do they have the positive attitudes toward this student population that enable them to genuinely validate their strengths and ease the fear they often experience? This study examines the development of individual undocu-competence and what methods participants suggest to build ‘undocu-competence’ within NC. The research design was a concurrent mixed methods study with 274 survey respondents and 24 interviewees.