Mia Cordero

Professor Arini
English 102
November 18, 2019

Juanita Tarango, is a faculty member here at Coconino Community College. Her title;
the Director of Student Success, and has been with Coconino Community College for right
around two years. How well does she really know our students you may ask? I would argue that
she is very in tune with what goes on at Coconino Community College, seeing as she interacts
with DACA, Undocumented, and Documented students every day. Furthermore, her students
are able to confide in her about their academic endeavors, personal lives, as well as their legal
statuses without any hesitation.

Mia: “Hi, okay to start off can you tell us your name, where you're from, and some background
information about you?”

Juanita: “Okay, haha well my name is Juanita Tarango. I am originally from uhh um born and
raised in Arizona um and what else did you ask? Background information. I am um one of
twelve and I am the first in my family to go to college, and to receive a college degree. I
attended NAU for my undergrad and graduate programs. Um I’m married and I have one
daughter and one beautiful grandson haha.”

Mia: “Aww that's great, okay um, what is your position here at Coconino Community College?”

Juanita: “Um well, my title is director of student success and so what that means is that I do a
lot of things haha um in a lot of the support services areas. Um I oversee the Disability
Resources department, TRIO , Student Life, um our Student Ambassadors, uh the Reception
desk for Student Affairs, and I am in charge of new student orientation. I’m currently working on
a First Year Experience for the college. Uh we have never had a FYE Program, so I am excited
about that, and um also I work with R.E.A.C.H. which is our resource referral for students and
employees who may be going through a difficult time um whether it is a food or housing
insecurity or maybe they need some assistance, state assistance or mental health assistance.”

Mia: “Mhm that's great! Sounds like you have a lot going on! Haha”

Juanita: “I really do, when I talk about it, I'm like “dang, how do I fit it in a day, haha!’”

Mia: “Haha right! Which leads me into my next question”

Juanita: “Okay”

Mia: “What does your average work day look like?”

Juanita: “Um well, it really depends, um so I can have, when I'm lucky, I have two meetings um
in a day. When I'm not so lucky, I have like five meetings in a day”

Mia: “Yeah”
Juanita: “And so that is like five hours right there, so um the days can be very different, but um
every day I think um has students involved in it, so regardless of how many meetings I have I
always have some sort of interaction with students”

Mia: “Yeah”

Juanita: “Um which Is probably what gets me through my day.”

Mia: “Yeah”

Juanita: “Yeah”

Mia: “Sounds great! Sounds like a lot of fun.”

Mia: “Um, what credentials have you earned since establishing your career?”

Juanita: “So my undergrad is in communication. I have a master's degree in educational

leadership, so um those are my um educational credentials. Um as far as different trainings, um
I have been OSHA certified. I have the mental health first aid training um here in all the required
type of training that we have here at the college that include: Title Nine and FERPA”

Mia: “Sounds like a lot haha, but really great things to have. Um how long have you been
supervising others and working with students?”

Juanita: “Mm so um, I worked in higher ed for about sixteen years. Um my first three years
were at Mesa Community College as an academic advisor, actually, my first two years then I
moved into um program advisor in the Multicultural and ESL Department. In that position I was
there for about seven or eight years, and in that position I supervised our Federal Work studies
um so I did that for about seven years and then I moved into a program manager position at
Rio Salado College, and in that position I also supervised Part-time and full-time staff, as well as
maintained all the programs and Facilities one of the Rio locations.”

Mia: “Yeah Wow! Sounds great um thank you for sharing um some background information and
just going into um your life basically. Um so to get into a little bit about what this interview is
about How would you describe the difference between applying for DACA compared to an
undocumented status.”

Juanita: “Well, um there's a huge difference in that you don't apply to be undocumented right?”

Mia: “Haha yes”

Juanita: “Haha um DACA is an actual application process and you have to meet certain criteria
in order to be eligible to apply and actually you can no longer apply to be a DACA student. Uh
that went away um I believe last year maybe even two years ago. I feel like things change too
often that I'm not always on top of what's going on but so DACA can no longer apply, you can
renew if you are already in the program but no longer new applicants. Um so that's the
difference right that one you have an option to receive some sort of legal status um to be in the
United States whereas if you are undocumented you don't you're just undocumented you don't
have any legal status to be here in the United States so it's very different.”
Mia: “Mmhmm yeah and just in your opinion would you consider that like would people apply for
that for the security to feel secure and where they're living or..”

Juanita: “for DACA?”

Mia: “Mmhmm“

Juanita: “so in the past when they were able to apply for DACA I think that, that was definitely
one of the reasons why they applied is probably because they could have some kind of legal
status and not feel like they had to hide or hide their status you know and it gave them the
opportunity to have a job get a driver's license where in the past they couldn't like can you
imagine”

Mia: “Yeah”

Juanita: “probably when you were fifteen or sixteen you may have driven without a license”

Mia: “Haha”

Juanita: “and you're freaking out but you're a citizen of the United States and they would
probably give you a warning but like to be sixteen or twenty-something”

Mia: “Yeah”

Juanita: “And Driving without a license and being undocumented is a different kind of scared.”

Mia: “Yes! Exactly. Okay um that was great thank you! Um People watching this who may not
know someone undocumented or has no relation um to the Hispanic community what would you
say or more importantly what would you want them to know?”

Juanita: “Um so it sounds like you're asking you know what would I like them to know about this
particular population.”

Mia: “Mmhmm”

Juanita: “Um and how they might be able to better understand some of their uh um concerns”

Mia: “Yes!”

Juanita: “Um I would definitely say that one of the things that they just always need to keep in
mind is that um like for our undocumented students an undocumented people living in the
United States that um it is not many times by choice that they are living in an undocumented
status. Um and if they have come by choice a lot of times it's because of their situations that
they feel that they don't have any other choice.”

Mia: “Yeah”
Juanita: “But to come um and that the process is a lengthy process, a costly process, and um
there is only a limited number of people from different um countries, that can um apply to be
here legally and so uh it's just not an easy process”

Mia: “Yeah thank you”

Juanita: “Yeah, I guess that's it.”

Mia: “Yeah thank you for that information. I think that is a very good thing to keep in mind going
throughout our lives. Um to my next question I've heard a rumor that if you are an
undocumented student you can't attend higher educational institutions um is that true? Or is it
like a common misconception?”

Juanita: “Uh that is um a myth.”

Mia: “Haha”

Juanita: “Haha um That is definitely a misconception um at Coconino and um all of the

community colleges in Arizona anyone can attend the college what's an open access Institution;
which means that for us if you have a high school diploma, a GED, or are over 18 that's how
you get in um if your under 18 like, you're younger than that you can still get in it's just that you
got to go through a different process, um the main difference to keep in mind however is tuition
um if you are undocumented or a DACA student um then you pay out-of-state tuition.”

Mia: “Mmhmm”

Juanita: “regardless of how long you've lived in the county or in the state”

Mia: “Yeah um, we were talking about the Open Access do you know if that's true for the
universities in like Phoenix or at NAU?”

Juanita: “Mmhmm”

Mia: “Oh okay”

Juanita: “So um they are yes. Um again the tuition will be different”

Mia: “Okay”

Juanita: “with the University however the Board of Regents for the three in state universities
have passed the right for the students who are DACA to receive a differential tuition so they
don't pay in-state and they don't pay out of state they pay this in between kind of amount”

Mia: “Mmhmm”

Juanita: “Um which has been helpful and I believe recently they have passed um also the rule
that they can if you have graduated from an Arizona high school that you still fall under that
criteria whether you are undocumented or DACAmented.”
Mia: “Okay um to go um into like some of the students you interact with, um what are their
biggest concerns like that you heard from them? Um and what do they come to you like asking
about?”

Juanita: “So a lot of different things haha”

Mia: “Haha”

Juanita: “Um some of them haha related to this topic which is why one of the clubs that I I'm a
club advisor for ALAS they um created a scholarship that is for DACA an undocumented and
immigrant students to be able to apply for the scholarship um it's not a lot their goal im sorry is
to raise $5,000 dollars so that they can fund five scholarships so that is something that was
important for them to start because that is um they know that these people are part of their
community.”

Mia: “Mmhmm, yeah.”

Juanita: “And they know that they can be productive members of our community and are, and
they want to make sure that they know that they can come to college and that maybe they cant
get it all paid for but, they can get some kind of help.

Mia: “Mmhmm yeah.”

Juanita: “So that one is very important. Um we have had some discussions and um, mental
health is also something that has come up. As well as, um relationships, gender roles, um sex
ed. Kind of sexual health, kind of knowledge.”

Mia: “Mmhmm, yeah. Haha”

Juanita: “Um so some very um, interesting um haha. Um all encompassing topics.”

Mia: “Haha, yes. Yes.”

Juanita: “That um we encounter on a daily basis.”

Mia: “Haha, um out of those um concerns; which in your opinion would you feel is the biggest.”

Juanita: “*sighs* For the students I currently work with? Or would you say students in general?”

Mia: “I would say students in general, because there is um, it does differ depending on the
students situation.”

Juanita: “Mmhmm”

Mia: “Um, but if you have more knowledge on the students that you work with now that’d be
great.”

Juanita: “*sighs* So which one is the most important? Um, you know thats it… thats tough I feel
like I can’t answer that.”
Mia: “Haha.”

Juanita: “Because its…”

Mia: “It’s so many.”

Juanita: “Yeah, Yeah! There is so many things that um every student has to deal with, and that
they all have concerns about and they're all valid.”

Mia: “Yeah! Mmhmm.”

Juanita: “So like I feel like I can’t choose one.”

Mia: “Haha Yeah! Yeah!”

Juanita: “Um so..”

Mia: “like yours is more important than the others.”

Juanita: “Yeah! Yeah so like I feel weird saying that someone elses haha.”

Mia: “Is more important? Haha yeah I totally understand! Okay to the next question. Um what
are other tools or resources that these students can use to cope with or overcome these
difficulties? Um for example, like community involvement, clubs um groups, or sports in or
around flagstaff? Um do you think that will help them?”

Juanita: “So, are you talking about students overall or undocumented and DACA students?”

Mia: “Undocumented and DACA students.”

Juanita: “Okay, um hmm I think some of the resources, like things that could help them um is
definitely getting involved with any groups in their community that can help to support them. And
when I say support I don’t mean like financially right?

Mia: “Mmhmm. Mmhmm.”

Juanita: “I mean like, that um that emotional support, that mental health support. Okay
financially if they can? Haha go right ahead.”

Mia: “Haha! Yeah.”

Juanita: “Um haha, but um yeah anything like that you know? I always think that volunteering is
a great way for you to give back.”

Mia: “Mmhmm.”
Juanita: “Especially when you don’t have the financial um background to be able to do that, but
it’s also a good way to network and meet a lot of people and a lot of leaders in your
community.”

Mia: “Yeah.”

Juanita: “and to share your story with because people are afraid to share their stories and that
is not a good thing.”

Mia: “Yeah.”

Juanita: “because then people just forget that those are issues, or they ignore them as issues
and this is something that needs to stay in the forefront of a lot of people’s… in their minds right
now. Especially as we move into like the..the 2020 elections.”

Mia: “Mmhmm! yeah.”

Juanita: “Um these are things that people need to keep in mind um when we put people in
power and the people who make decisions; that um those people need to be able to uh reflect
the decisions and the way we think.”

Mia: “Yeah! I One-Hundred percent agree! Um, when your students come to you and they ask
you about like your advice, what do they want to do with their future, or like what are their
goals?”

Juanita: “*sighs* Um I heard a lot of “I don’t know”.”

Mia: “Haha!”

Juanita: “Haha, um…”

Mia: “Haha! Undeclared major.”

Juanita: “Haha, you know and thats.. Its okay!”

Mia: “Mmhmm!”

Juanita: “Its okay for people to not know what they want to do when they grow up. I am still
figuring that out and so um, so that is probably one of the most common things. It’s very rare
that somebody comes in and absolutely knows what they want to do um when they get out of
school. Um and you know I just try to encourage them to continue. To stay on the path of
education.”

Mia: ”Mmhmm.”

Juanita: “Um, because regardless of what happens in your future um, you know you can win
the lottery one day and like in a year be totally bankrupt and like people take all of your stuff.”

Mia: “Haha. Mmhmm.”

Juanita: “maybe they REPO it.”

Mia: “Haha uh-huh!”

Juanita: “but like your education, and your degree it.. nobody can like REPO that, right. Haha ”

Mia: “Yeah haha yeah!”

Juanita: “They can’t take that from you, and so that is the one thing that you can take with you
and be able to start all over with.”

Mia: “Mmhmm.”

Juanita: “um, and that the piece of paper is usually what a lot of people want to see. Um I work
in um Student support services, and I didn’t go to school for like social work, counselling, and
education at least for my undergrad.”

Mia: “Mmhmm.”

Juanita: “but my degree, my bachelor's degree afforded me so many opportunities to get jobs
that would not have been able to get.”

Mia: “Mmhmm, yeah!”

Juanita: “and it was helpful that I spoke spanish!”

Mia: “Yeah! Haha that’s great! Okay do you feel Coconino Community College does a good job
of reaching out to undocumented students to offer resources?”

Juanita: “Um, I feel like um were moving in the right direction, um and um the people that I work
with I know that they do a really good job *phone rings* to um try to get.. Try to help those
students as much as possible um but is it something that we can work on, and do a better job
at? Yeah! I mean as a state we can be doing a better job, as a nation we can be doing a better
job. So it’s hard to like really be judgemental on an institution when um you know our state and
our nation are not reflecting those same ideas.

Mia: “Mmhmm, that’s true! Do you have any ideas for the college to start moving or start
speeding up the process of providing resources? I know we were talking about the ALAS
Scholarship, um do you have any other ideas?”

Juanita: “So like the ALAS Scholarship is definitely a good *phone rings* … good start and um I
think what the ALAS Club is doing also when they are reaching out to the local high schools to
see how they can educate the high school students and the high school parents i think that’s
another good outreach effort. Um all of the connections that the club and myself are working on
I feel like those are all um moving in that direction; to get those resources together to make
people aware of some of the concerns and the opportunities that they can have to help some
students.”
Mia: “Mmhmm Yeah! Um, I guess that kind of leads me into my next question um …*phone
rings*.”

Juanita: “I’m so sorry!.”

Mia: “No, you’re good! What can you do to help undocumented or DACA students here at
CCC?”

Juanita: “Um, I guess the best that I can do at this time is to really educate them on the fact that
they can come to school and that if we apply early for scholarships, that there's opportunities to
get some money to help pay for school. Um and unfortunately like, those scholarships; like they
go quickly right. So like you gotta be competitive in that. So that means you gotta be that
student who has that GPA that’s up there. If you need help with something in a subject, that
you’re going to the free tutoring that we have here on campus. Haha, um that you know you go
to your office hours for your teacher that are also like part of.. It’s free, you don’t have to pay to
go see your teacher.’

Mia: “Yeah!”

Juanita: “Um so that’s what I think I can do, and I think also like helping the students, um like
the ALAS students and the students I work with; to be just as um, aware and educated of some
of those um opportunities, like for the scholarships and to inform people they know that they can
go to school and that it’s not that they can’t go to college.”

Mia: “Yeah.”

Juanita: So the more that I share that information with people I feel like they will also share that
information; and just you know um building these students to be great leaders and advocates for
themselves and for their communities.”

Mia: “Mmhmm! Yeah, thank you!”

Juanita: “Haha I feel like I’m running for something.”

Mia: “Haha, I know haha Juanita for President 2020. right”

Juanita: “Haha!”

Mia: “Um lastly, um is there anything you want to tell us that you feel is important to know that
we haven’t talked about yet?

Juanita: “Um, no. I feel like your questions were very intentional and um very specific to this
and I feel like everything was addressed. Um, but if there is anything that you think about um
like tonight, tomorrow that maybe you would like some answers to or some follow up, um please
you know, know that you can come back and you can ask me those questions and I’d be happy
to answer them for you.”

Mia: “Mmhmm! Okay thank you!”

Juanita: “Yeah, well thank you! Haha!”

Mia: “Haha thank you for taking the time!”

Juanita:”Haha my husbands calling like you told me.. *video cuts*”