Dream Act Service Incentive Grant (DSIG)

1. Review our on-campus internship opportunities.
    
2. Visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and schedule an appointment with the Student Employment Coordinator if you are not sure where you would like to intern.
    
3. Reach out to the volunteer site supervisor via email to let them know you are interested in volunteering with them. Please note that some volunteer sites may interview you to determine if you are a good fit for their project. 
    
4. Once your volunteer opportunity has been confirmed, submit your DSIG Grant Application. Complete Section 1 and Section 4 to obtain confirmation of your eligibility.
    
5. Once the financial aid and scholarships office has completed your application, download the form and have your volunteer supervisor complete Section 3. 
    
6. Email the completed form to [email protected]

Must be CADAA applicant, and have an active Cal Grant A or Cal Grant B.  If you are unsure of your eligibility, visit the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office and submit your DSIG Grant Application.

To locate on-campus sites, log into Handshake and select Internships. For off-campus sites, review the DSIG’s off-campus internship opportunities.

If it is an on-campus site, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will help you get started. If it is an off-campus nonprofit that is not listed on the DSIG website, you must submit the Service Organization Registration form. Please note that you cannot volunteer for an organization that engages exclusively in political, social, or religious advocacy.

You can do that! Please make sure you submit the paperwork for both sites to get approved. 

It depends on how busy the CSAC DSIG team is. It may take a few days to weeks. You can begin your internship while you wait but just keep in mind that you may not be approved. It is okay to wait to begin your internship until you are approved.

You can always switch internship sites. We just ask that you communicate with your site lead and let them know you would like to end your internships. 

It is up to you and your internship location to decide on your weekly hours, but no more than 20 hours per week. 

For the Fall semester, your 150 hours can be completed in the spring semester. For the Spring Semester, your 150 hours must be completed by June 30th.

Make sure you keep a note of your hours by using the Services Hours Tracker. Once 150 hours have been completed, submit your DSIG Payment Request to obtain confirmation of your eligibility for payment. Once completed by all required departments, email the form to [email protected].

Once you submit your payment request form to CSAC, the DSIG team will let you know if you are approved for payment. If approved, you and the financial aid administrator on your Payment Request will receive an email notification once your check is mailed to your school’s Financial Aid Office. This process usually takes 4-6 weeks. We highly encourage you to submit your payment request as soon as you complete your 150 hours.

Please submit our CSULA Service/Volunteer Experiences form to list your site. 

No, this program is covered by the California Student Aid Commission. We do ask if funding is available, you provide all the supplies and tools needed for the student to complete the volunteer experience.

Yes, you must submit a volunteer form to HR so that they are approved.

No, this is an experiential learning opportunity where the student is a volunteer. The goal of this program is to provide students with the opportunity to volunteer and gather career experience while supporting departmental projects.

Yes, they can as long as it aligns with their academic and/or career interests. 

You can always refer students to the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office, and we can help students verify if they qualify. Please note that the DSIG program is only for CA Dream Act-eligible students.