Congress continues to debate the structure of a potential budget reconciliation package. Congress must prioritize programs that support college access, affordability, and student success for undocumented students. This resource notes how America’s College Promise program, which is part of the Build Back Better Act, would have guaranteed two years of free community to all, will […]

Fact Sheet: Higher Ed Afghan Response Colleges and universities can provide much-needed protection and support for Afghan newcomers. Supporting access to higher education is at the core of the higher education mission. In supporting and enrolling Afghan refugee students, U.S. colleges and universities can improve refugee integration outcomes, expand access to higher education for refugee students, […]

Eight Tips and Things to Consider A limited number of U.S. colleges and universities offer scholarships specifically for refugee or displaced students. You can find many of these scholarships listed on UNHCR or IIE’s websites. These scholarships create opportunities for refugee students to access U.S. higher education and a way for colleges and universities to […]

This post contains resources from American University’s Defending The Dream AU Initiative and other partners on Advanced Parole and information on what the program is and how Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients can apply for it. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), an Advance Parole document may authorize a non-citizen who […]

Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR) Launches Mapping Tool Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR) launched a new map tool that allows users to visualize higher education support for refugee resettlement across the country. The Partnerships for Establishing Resettlement Campuses (PERC) Map Tool shows potential partnerships between local resettlement agencies, colleges and universities, refugee service providers, and advocacy organizations to […]

Optional Practical Training (OPT) allows graduates to gain valuable hands-on experience and begin contributing their education and training to the U.S. immediately. More than a million students from around the globe attended universities to obtain their higher education degrees and without OPT many would have to leave the U.S. in order to use their skills […]

Briefing on University Sponsorship of Refugee Students The Presidents’ Alliance and its partners in the Initiative on U.S. Education Pathways for Refugee Students held a briefing on December 2, 2021 to discuss our newly released report and recommendations on university sponsorship of refugee students. Since an inaugural strategy meeting in May 2021, over a hundred […]

RESPONSE Campaign Toolkit To build support for university sponsorship of refugee students, the Presidents’ Alliance launched the RESPONSE Campaign: College and University Sponsorship of Refugee Students. This toolkit provides the information and tools for you to join and spread awareness about the RESPONSE Campaign. The toolkit can be used by everyone from students to higher […]

Frequently Asked Questions The launch of the report on university sponsorship for refugee students is the beginning of an iterative process to build and implement an effective university sponsorship program that will evolve to meet the needs of students and the context. Below are a few of the most commonly asked questions about university sponsorship […]

How Will An University Sponsorship Program Be Funded? Costs for a potential university sponsorship program will include, but are not limited to, the Implementing Organization (I.O.) (staff, pre-departure activities and coordination, U.S. cohort coordination, training of U.S. HEIs, etc.), learning costs on campus (tuition, fees, room & board, books and supplies, etc.), and wraparound support […]