Refugee Students

Refugee students and scholars have made crucial contributions to U.S. higher education. Colleges and universities have a rich legacy of welcoming refugees and their families onto their campuses and communities, embracing the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds that they bring to America. At a time when there are nearly seventy million displaced people in the world, many of them women, children and families, U.S. higher education can play an important role in maintaining U.S. leadership in refugee resettlement. Campuses across the U.S. have implemented innovative programs and practices to aid refugees and other vulnerable communities access higher education, achieve degree completion, obtain career preparation, and find long-term success.

On November 18, 2021, the RESPONSE Campaign was launched to outline a path and recommendations for the U.S. to develop, implement, and sustain an initiative for colleges and universities to be able to directly sponsor refugee students.