The Undocumented, First-Generation College and Low-Income Student Center (U-FLi Center), founded in the fall of 2016, is communal, learning, and advocacy center for members of the Brown community who identify with the undocumented, first-generation college and/or low-income student experience (U-FLi). The U-FLi Center aims to contribute to the endurance of U-FLi students by providing them with a dedicated space, programming, and advising that values their lived experiences as they navigate an elite, historically white institution and acknowledges the impact of the current socio-political climate on their academic well-being.

Equity-Asset-Based Approach

By utilizing an equity-asset-based (EAB) approach as our grounding framework for student support, we place value on the strengths, assets and knowledge that U-FLi students already bring with them when they enter our institution. The center amplifies the following assets through our intersectional programming and strengths-based advising to provide students with the navigational tools to thrive at Brown: 1) collectivism, (2) resistance, (3) self-reliance and (4) reflexivity.

Principles

As such, the center’s approach to supporting students is guided by the following principles:

• increases the visibility of the narratives and experiences of undocu-plus (undocumented, DACA,TPS, mixed-status family), low-income, and first-generation college students both within its own physical space and throughout the institution.
• collaborates with campus resources to address issues of accessibility by advocating for and with students, as well as providing appropriate referrals when necessary.
• provides holistic identity-development support for students by engaging in intersectional, collaborative programming with the other campus centers and affiliated student organizations.
• increases awareness of issues impacting undocumented students to further institutionalize support services that are catered to their respective needs.
• recognizes the foundation on which it was created by providing opportunities for campus advocacy through co-curricular engagement.

First-Generation College Students

The term "first-generation college student" is defined as a student whose parents or guardians did not complete a four-year college education, within or outside of the United States. At the U-FLi Center we encourage students to think of the term more broadly and welcome any student who self-identifies as having minimal prior exposure to, or knowledge of, navigating higher education. 

Low-income Students

For "low-income students," there is no income level that determines eligibility for students to take advantage of the community, programs, and advising of the U-FLi Center. Though generally, engaged students have little to no expected parent contribution as part of their financial aid package. Students who advocated for the inclusion of low-income students in the title of the center had powerful stories for how their class experiences impacted their time at Brown and expressed a desire for increased coordination of support.

Undocumented Students

An "undocumented student" is defined as a student who is not a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident of the United States, and who does not hold a visa to reside in the U.S. Undocumented students can find information about financial, legal, and emotional support through the Undocumented Student Program of the Center, as well as the Brown Immigrant Rights Coalition.  The U-FLi Center also works closely with students who may identify with the "undocu-plus" experience (DACA-mented students, TPS holders, or students from mixed-status families).