Colleges and Universities Across America Marshal Support for Afghan Refugees

Over the last few months, TIEC has been proud to be a part of a growing network of formal and informal collaborations happening across the United States to support Afghan evacuees and their families. In September 2021, we launched our own TIEC Fellowship for Afghan evacuees, mobilizing resources from our strategic reserves to encourage our 35 Texas university members to get involved by offering fellowships or scholarships – with priority to high-risk professional women evacuated from Afghanistan, but with a mind to anyone looking for a university experience to start their new lives.

Since our launch, we have been a part of WelcomeUS’s nationwide efforts to support Afghan refugees. On Tuesday, December 7, 2021, we were proud to be a part of Welcome.US’s launch of the Welcome Campus Network, a growing coalition of colleges and universities across the United States committed to welcoming and supporting newly arrived refugees.

As part of Tuesday’s launch, TIEC’s senior director of strategic partnership, Dr. D’Andrea Weeks was honored to join a White House Allies Welcome roundtable with Former Governor Markell and U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona to be part of a national conversation on how higher education can support Afghan evacuees, and share more about our state-level model for coordinating efforts among universities.

Below is the official press release for the Welcome Campus Network, a part of Welcome.US.

12/8/2021

Colleges and Universities Across America Marshal Support for Afghan Refugees

New ‘Welcome Campus Network’ will amplify wide-ranging efforts of higher education institutions

Washington, D.C. — Today, a growing coalition of more than two dozen colleges and universities across the United States joined Welcome.US in announcing the Welcome Campus Network, which will amplify the work of higher education institutions to welcome and support newly arrived Afghan refugees.

Colleges and universities in more than 30 states are actively working to provide scholarships, housing units, community sponsorship, and pathways to education for thousands of Afghan refugees and their families, as well as other support and welcoming activities. In just four months, nearly 200 institutions of higher education have pledged to help — a testament to the whole-of-community effort taking place across the country.

To highlight these efforts, Welcome.US, the National Association of System Heads and leaders from several colleges and universities joined a roundtable today hosted by White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome Jack Markell and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.

“Institutions of higher education have a huge role to play in supporting the success of Afghan newcomers--and facilitating their tremendous contributions. Universities have long been engaged in lifting the voices of Afghan leaders and supporting greater access to education and opportunity for Afghans, first in Afghanistan, and now here in the U.S. as our allies rebuild their lives” said Welcome.US CEO Nazanin Ash. “It is incredible to see so many colleges and universities coming together and making an impact on the lives of these newcomers, and Welcome.US is eager to lift up their efforts.”

White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome Jack Markell added, “We’ve approached this historic resettlement effort by focusing on what it will take to equip our Afghan allies for success as they rebuild their lives in America. Education is a crucial piece of this equation.  The institutions stepping up to welcome Afghan students on campus reflect the very best of America and are making an important investment in the future of our Afghan allies and in our country.”

The partnership with Welcome.US includes the National Association of System Heads, the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, the Texas International Education Consortium, and Every Campus A Refuge. Welcome.US is also partnering with leaders such as Dr. Heather Wilson, President of The University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and former Secretary of the United States Air Force, who brought together chancellors and presidents of 27 universities and colleges to create the Welcome Campus Network.

Ensuring access to higher education opportunities is critical to helping Afghan refugees resettle and find long-term success. Universities like UTEP who have a rich history of supporting migrant and immigrant students are placing Afghan scholars as visiting researchers and professors, while students and other members of the campus community are stepping up with initiatives like school supply drives. The Nevada System of Higher Education is offering housing and sponsorship to Afghan students, and Washington State University is working to remove barriers to house, sponsor, and place students and scholars across its seven campuses.

“Education is the best pathway to opportunity in America for Afghan refugees, their children, and their grandchildren,” said Dr. Heather Wilson, President of The University of Texas at El Paso.  “UTEP and universities across America want to make clear that we will welcome you.”

“Public university systems across the nation are meeting this moment to support Afghan refugee resettlement because — at our core — we own a public mission to work together to lift people up," said Dr. Nancy Zimpher, senior fellow at NASH and chancellor emeritus of The State University of New York. “What we are hearing is a deep commitment for what each system can bring to the table to build welcoming and inclusive opportunities to live, work, and learn on college and university campuses. And we know the success of these efforts relies on a strong partnership with the federal government and the Welcome Campus Network.”

On December 8-9, the National Association of Systems Heads (NASH) is hosting a major convening with the chancellors of 44 state university systems to discuss the concrete commitments and substantive work they are doing to assist Afghan refugees. The Big ReThink Super-Convening will feature a session on NASH’s “Afghan Action Plan,” created in partnership with Welcome.US and the White House to address gaps and opportunities to support the successful integration of Afghan refugees in communities. This session will also highlight the welcome initiatives of state university systems and the existing and unfolding housing, sponsorship, and other related efforts across hundreds of campuses nationwide.

The Welcome Campus Network includes:

• Alamo Community College
• Arizona State University
• Central Washington University
• Colorado State University
• Every Campus A Refuge
• Houston Community College
• Indiana University–Purdue University, Indianapolis
• National Association of System Heads
• Northern Virginia Community College
• Oklahoma State University
• Pima Community College
• Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration
• Sacramento State University
• Salt Lake Community College
• San Jose State University
• San Francisco State University
• Texas Woman’s University
• Texas International Education Consortium
• The University of Texas at El Paso
• University of Colorado Denver
• University of California, Riverside
• University of Massachusetts Boston
• University of Houston
• University of Illinois Chicago
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Oregon
• University of Tulsa
• University of Texas at Arlington
• University of Texas San Antonio
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Welcome.US

Colleges and universities interested in joining the Welcome Campus Network should email partners@welcome.us.