Initiative on U.S. Education Pathways for Refugee Students: New Report and RESPONSE Campaign

We are proud to announce the release of a new report outlining recommendations for the U.S. to develop, implement, and sustain a university sponsorship program for refugee students and the launch of The RESPONSE Campaign: College and University Sponsorship of Refugee Students.

You can find the report here, and information about the RESPONSE Campaign here.

This is the moment for the U.S. to embark on the essential next step in expanding refugee access to higher education. The need for additional legal pathways for refugees is vast, and the disparity in access to higher education, immense. Today, there is not only a clear policy opportunity to make university sponsorship possible, but there is also momentum and support from funders and higher education institutions to enable it to successfully launch, grow, and be embedded in campuses and communities across the U.S.

This report is the outcome of six months of work involving representatives from approximately sixty organizations and institutions. This report’s policy and program recommendations outline a path for the U.S. to develop and implement a university sponsorship program for refugee students. Such a program would allow refugee students to enter the U.S. under a newly-established private sponsorship category (P-4) of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and study at a sponsoring college or university.

The “RESPONSE” in our campaign name refers to “Refugee Sponsorship for Education.” It’s a mission we believe in deeply–one that presents an enormous opportunity for higher education–and a model that can change the lives of refugee students. Learn more at https://www.higheredimmigrationportal.org/response-campaign/