Dream Centers and undocumented student programs at Bay Area colleges

This page is a directory, not a referral. Offices change rooms, hours and staff often. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

What is a Dream Center?

A campus office for undocumented students and students from mixed status families. Names vary. The help is similar: AB 540 and residency, the California Dream Act Application, scholarships, a place to study, and connections to free legal and mental health services.

California requires every community college and every CSU campus to name a Dreamer Resource Liaison, a staff member who knows financial aid, social services and state funded immigration legal services. UC campuses are asked to do the same. The law also encourages campuses to open Dream Resource Centers (Education Code 66021.8).

So even if your college has no center, it should have a person. Ask the financial aid or counseling office who the Dreamer Resource Liaison is.

Do I have to tell them my status?

You choose what to share. These offices exist to serve undocumented students, and several say their help is confidential. Foothill College describes confidential support, and Skyline College describes its legal clinic as free and confidential.

California colleges must keep the information gathered for the AB 540 exemption confidential (Education Code 68130.5). For more on records and campus rights, see ICE, college records and your rights on a California campus.

San Mateo County community colleges

All three are in the San Mateo County Community College District.

Cañada College, Redwood City: Undocumented Community Center (UCC)

• Where: Building 9, Room 118, 4200 Farm Hill Blvd., Redwood City
• Coordinator: (650) 306-3481, padillavalenciaj@smccd.edu
• Financial aid technician: (650) 306-3172, Building 9, Room 116
• Offers: computer access and free printing, study space with snacks, help with AB 540, the Dream Act and scholarships, free legal services, help with the DACA renewal fee, and referrals
• Source: Cañada UCC and UCC staff page. Hours are not posted; call first.

College of San Mateo, San Mateo: Multicultural and Dream Center

• Phone: (650) 574-6120. Email: csmmccdc@my.smccd.edu
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., virtual. The center says it is moving to a new space, so in person help is limited.
• Offers: AB 540, DACA and Dream Act help, a CSM undocumented student scholarship guide, and free legal services by phone with the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (the center lists (415) 528-6004 for that partner)
• Source: CSM Multicultural and Dream Center

Skyline College, San Bruno: Undocumented Community Center (UCC)

• Where: Building 1, Room 1-219
• Phone: (650) 738-4220. Email: skylineucc@smccd.edu
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on campus and online
• Offers: enrollment help, financial aid and Dream Act help, DACA resources, and an Immigration Legal Clinic with free, confidential virtual consultations open to students, staff and the public
• Source: Skyline UCC

Foothill and De Anza colleges

Both are in the Foothill De Anza Community College District in Santa Clara County.

Foothill College, Los Altos Hills: UndocuDREAMERs Program

• Where: Student Affairs and Activities, Building 2100, Room 2149
• Phone: (650) 949-7326. Email: brownpauline@fhda.edu
• Fall 2026 hours: Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., in person and virtual. Closed December 14 to 25, 2026.
• Offers: confidential help with college steps and financial aid, free immigration legal services with the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area and the Foundation for California Community Colleges, scholarship and emergency fund guidance, counseling, mental health support, know your rights resources, and ally training for staff
• Source: Foothill UndocuDREAMERs

De Anza College, Cupertino: HEFAS (Higher Education for AB 540 Students)

• Where: the East Cottage, near the Flint Garage, per De Anza's resources page
• Hours posted: Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (listed as spring quarter hours; closed Fridays). Book a meeting through the HEFAS page. No phone is posted.
• Offers: free printing, textbook lending, calculator rentals, exam supplies, workshops, scholarship and aid guidance, peer mentors and tutors
• Free legal help: De Anza points students to the community college program at findyourally.com
• Also on campus: free counseling at the Mental Health and Wellness Center

Universities

San José State University: UndocuSpartan Student Resource Center

• Where: Clark Hall, rooms 100G and 100F, first floor, in front of EOP
• Phone: (408) 924-2762. Email: undocuspartan@sjsu.edu
• Appointments encouraged; walk ins accepted. Meetings in person, by video or by phone.
• The contact page still showed summer 2024 hours on October 21, 2026. Call or email for current hours.
• Source: SJSU UndocuSpartan contact page

San Francisco State University: Dream Resource Center (DRC)

• Where: Student Services Building, Room 206M
• Email: drc@sfsu.edu. No phone is posted.
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Offers: academic advising, legal services, scholarships and money skills, career help, peer support, housing and food help, residency and Dream Act support, and workshops
• Source: SF State DRC

UC Berkeley: Undocumented Student Program (USP)

• Where: the Undocumented Community Resource Center, in the Student Center
• Phone: (510) 664-5348. Email: undocu@berkeley.edu
• Resource center hours: Monday to Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Offers: legal support appointments with the East Bay Community Law Center, know your rights and DACA information, academic counseling, mental health services, Dream Act and aid advising, emergency grants, and help for prospective students and parents
• Source: UC Berkeley USP

Other UC campuses nearby. UC lists UCSF Undocumented Student Support Services and UC Santa Cruz Undocumented Student Services on its campus support page.

What free legal help can I get through my college?

More than most students know.

• Community colleges. The state program gives free immigration legal services to community college students, staff and faculty, with priority for undocumented people. It covers consultations to screen for relief, DACA renewals, family petitions and citizenship. Book at findyourally.com. The Chancellor's Office page (updated August 20, 2026) says removal defense and asylum are not funded right now, but referrals may be given, and its DACA fee fund has been used up.
• CSU. Each CSU campus offers free legal help; find yours from the CSU undocumented students page. Each CSU campus must also name a point of contact for anyone facing an immigration order or inquiry on campus.
• UC. At Berkeley, USP books appointments with the East Bay Community Law Center.

Not a student yet? See Free legal help in the Bay Area.

What should I ask the center?

Bring a list. These questions get you the most help in one visit:

1. Can you check that my AB 540 or nonresident exemption is on file?
2. Did my California Dream Act Application reach your financial aid office? Am I missing anything?
3. Am I being considered for the Cal Grant, the Promise Grant (community college) or the State University Grant (CSU)?
4. What campus scholarships or emergency grants are there for undocumented students?
5. Can I get a free legal consultation? How do I book?
6. Are there paid jobs, internships or fellowships I can do without a work permit?
7. Is there counseling or a support group?
8. Who is the Dreamer Resource Liaison if I need help after hours?

New to these words? Keep the college and aid glossary open.

What mistakes should I avoid?

• Waiting until you have a problem. Introduce yourself in your first month.
• Assuming the aid office knows your situation. Confirm your AB 540 form and Dream Act Application are both on file.
• Using a paid "consultant" for immigration help when free campus lawyers exist. See Warning signs of an immigration scam.
• Missing the March 2 deadline. File the Dream Act Application by March 2, 2027 for Cal Grant. Community college students also have until September 2, 2027, per CSAC.

Questions people ask

Can high school students visit? Many centers help future students. UC Berkeley's program has pages for prospective students and families. Call ahead.

My college is not on this list. What do I do? Ask the financial aid or counseling office for the Dreamer Resource Liaison. Every community college and CSU campus in California must have one.

Do I need DACA to use these services? No. The college pages describe services for undocumented students in general, not only DACA recipients.

Can my parents get legal help there too? The community college program serves students, staff and faculty. Skyline's legal clinic says it is open to the public. Ask your center.

Who can help?

Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• California Student Aid Commission (statewide, Dream Act Application questions): (888) 224-7268, studentsupport@csac.ca.gov, per its contact page.
• California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office (statewide): 916-445-8752, info@cccco.edu.
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties): (650) 326-6440, per CLSEPA.