Undocumented Students in Higher Education: Struggling to Achieve the American Dream

There are 65,000 undocumented high school students that graduate each year, with only approximately 5-10% of these students going on to attend a college or university. This paper discusses the struggles and barriers undocumented students face while applying to college and during their college experience. Some of these hardships include but are not limited to: citizenship status, social economic status, financial aid, immigration reform, education policies, and belonging to an existing minority group (Latinos) that is underrepre- sented in higher education. Lastly, an interview with an undocumented student supports the findings from literature review and allowed the student to tell his story and struggles to achieve the “American Dream.” There are thousands of determined undocumented college students who unlike their American-born or legalized peers, are burdened with the added pressures of finding ways to fund their educational endeavors, while facing a variety of social and educational challenges. Immigration policy and financial aid regulations are constraining vulnerable populations deemed undesirable and undeserving. Despite these challenges the students persevere and continue in their pursuit of a college education.Ope

The Nearby Optical Galaxy Sample: The Local Galaxy Luminosity Function

In this paper we derive the galaxy luminosity function from the Nearby Optical Galaxy (NOG) sample, which is a nearly complete, magnitude-limited (B<14 mag), all-sky sample of nearby optical galaxies (~6400 galaxies with cz<5500 km/s). For this local sample, we use galaxy distance estimates based on different peculiar velocity models. Therefore, the derivation of the luminosity function is carried out using the locations of field and grouped galaxies in real distance space. The local field galaxy luminosity function in the B system is well described by a Schechter function. The exact values of the Schechter parameters slightly depend on the adopted peculiar velocity field models. The shape of the luminosity function of spiral galaxies does not differ significantly from that of E-S0 galaxies. On the other hand, the late-type spirals and irregulars have a very steeply rising luminosity function towards the faint end, whereas the ellipticals appreciably decrease in number towards low luminosities. The presence of galaxy systems in the NOG sample does not affect significantly the field galaxy luminosity function, since environmental effects on the total luminosity function appear to be marginal.Comment: 35 pages including 7 figures and 4 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal_Fall2012_Vol.1

The TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal is the official publication of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The journal includes abstracts of the students' final paper and represents combined efforts of students and their research mentors. The views expressed in the papers and abstracts are not intended to represent the views, beliefs, interests, values, or practices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationOpe

TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal_Fall2012_Vol.1

The TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal is the official publication of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The journal includes abstracts of the students' final paper and represents combined efforts of students and their research mentors. The views expressed in the papers and abstracts are not intended to represent the views, beliefs, interests, values, or practices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationOpe

TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal_Spring2013_Vol.1

The TRiO McNair Scholars Undergraduate Research Journal is the official publication of the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The journal includes abstracts of the students' final paper and represents combined efforts of students and their research mentors. The views expressed in the papers and abstracts are not intended to represent the views, beliefs, interests, values, or practices of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationRonald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program grant from the U.S. Department of EducationOpe

Dark Energy and Modified Gravity

Despite two decades of tremendous experimental and theoretical progress, the riddle of the accelerated expansion of the Universe remains to be solved. On the experimental side, our understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the major dark energy probes has evolved; here we summarize the major probes and their crucial challenges. On the theoretical side, the taxonomy of explanations for the accelerated expansion rate is better understood, providing clear guidance to the relevant observables. We argue that: i) improving statistical precision and systematic control by taking more data, supporting research efforts to address crucial challenges for each probe, using complementary methods, and relying on cross-correlations is well motivated; ii) blinding of analyses is difficult but ever more important; iii) studies of dark energy and modified gravity are related; and iv) it is crucial that R&D for a vibrant dark energy program in the 2030s be started now by supporting studies and technical R&D that will allow embryonic proposals to mature. Understanding dark energy, arguably the biggest unsolved mystery in both fundamental particle physics and cosmology, will remain one of the focal points of cosmology in the forthcoming decade

Dark Energy and Modified Gravity

Despite two decades of tremendous experimental and theoretical progress, the riddle of the accelerated expansion of the Universe remains to be solved. On the experimental side, our understanding of the possibilities and limitations of the major dark energy probes has evolved; here we summarize the major probes and their crucial challenges. On the theoretical side, the taxonomy of explanations for the accelerated expansion rate is better understood, providing clear guidance to the relevant observables. We argue that: i) improving statistical precision and systematic control by taking more data, supporting research efforts to address crucial challenges for each probe, using complementary methods, and relying on cross-correlations is well motivated; ii) blinding of analyses is difficult but ever more important; iii) studies of dark energy and modified gravity are related; and iv) it is crucial that R&D for a vibrant dark energy program in the 2030s be started now by supporting studies and technical R&D that will allow embryonic proposals to mature. Understanding dark energy, arguably the biggest unsolved mystery in both fundamental particle physics and cosmology, will remain one of the focal points of cosmology in the forthcoming decade

The Future Landscape of High-Redshift Galaxy Cluster Science

We describe the opportunities for galaxy cluster science in the high- redshift regime where massive, virialized halos first formed and where star formation and AGN activity peaked. New observing facilities from radio to X-ray wavelengths, combining high spatial/spectral resolution with large collecting areas, are poised to uncover this population

The Future Landscape of High-Redshift Galaxy Cluster Science

The Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics (Astro2020) of the US National Academies of ScienceWe describe the opportunities for galaxy cluster science in the high- redshift regime where massive, virialized halos first formed and where star formation and AGN activity peaked. New observing facilities from radio to X-ray wavelengths, combining high spatial/spectral resolution with large collecting areas, are poised to uncover this population

The Future Landscape of High-Redshift Galaxy Cluster Science

The Decadal Survey on Astronomy and Astrophysics (Astro2020) of the US National Academies of ScienceWe describe the opportunities for galaxy cluster science in the high- redshift regime where massive, virialized halos first formed and where star formation and AGN activity peaked. New observing facilities from radio to X-ray wavelengths, combining high spatial/spectral resolution with large collecting areas, are poised to uncover this population