The Welcome Corps on Campus is Building Sustainable Pathways for Refugee Students

For Immediate Release:
September 12, 2023

Contact:
Stephanie Clegg, sclegg@communitysponsorshiphub.org
Jason Koh, Jason@presidentsalliance.org

The Welcome Corps on Campus is Building Sustainable Pathways for Refugee Students

WASHINGTON D.C. – Today at 1 PM Eastern Time, the Welcome Corps on Campus consortium is pleased to invite college and university officials, campus leaders, educators, students, and members of the general public to learn more about a first-of-its-kind program for refugee students and U.S. higher education institutions. Hosted at Georgetown University and featuring Julieta Valls Noyes, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, and John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University, this in-person or virtual event for Welcome Corps on Campus brings together experts in higher education, policymakers, and refugee resettlement organizations to discuss inclusive pathways for refugees to access higher education.

“We are thrilled to share Welcome Corps on Campus with the Georgetown community and beyond. By joining the Welcome Corps on Campus, students, faculty, staff and institutional leaders are not only helping refugee students find a sense of belonging but also fostering an environment of unity, understanding, and global citizenship.” said Nele Feldmann, Associate Director of Welcome Corps on Campus at the Community Sponsorship Hub.

The Welcome Corps on Campus is a groundbreaking opportunity for college and university communities to sponsor refugee students and provide a softer landing and an educational pathway, setting refugee students up for academic and overall success. U.S. public and private universities and colleges enroll talented students currently living as refugees overseas and support their resettlement to the U.S.

“The Welcome Corps on Campus represents a pivotal moment in advancing safety and protection for displaced people while  embracing the drive, excellence, and experiences that refugee students bring. This first in-person event for the program serves as a catalyst for building momentum and enlightening the public about the profound impact that campuses nationwide can have in granting life-changing access to higher education and fostering enduring protection for refugee students. Institutions and communities that open their doors to these students are enriched and transformed through the infusion of fresh perspectives.” said Dr. Miriam Feldblum, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration.

The Welcome Corps on Campus operates under the umbrella of the Welcome Corps, the broader U.S. private sponsorship program that was launched by the U.S. Department of State in January 2023 for refugees admitted through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). The Department of State funds a consortium of non-profit organizations with expertise in resettlement and higher education to implement the Welcome Corps on Campus. Led by Community Sponsorship Hub (CSH), the consortium includes Every Campus A Refuge (ECAR), the Institute of International Education (IIE), the National Association of System Heads (NASH), the Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and World University Service of Canada (WUSC).

###

About the Welcome Corps and the Welcome Corps on Campus

The Welcome Corps is a new program that empowers everyday Americans to come together to privately sponsor refugees, building on our country’s long tradition of providing refuge to those fleeing persecution. Through the Welcome Corps, Private Sponsor Groups welcome refugees into local communities and directly assist refugee newcomers as they build new lives in the United States.

The Welcome Corps on Campus leverages the capacity of U.S. higher education institutions to serve as resettlement spaces and academic opportunities for refugee students, foster more diverse and inclusive campuses, and create a sustainable opportunity for colleges and universities to welcome refugee students on their campuses. Campus Private Sponsor Groups consisting of staff, faculty, and students will welcome refugee students and provide them with a softer landing, a supportive community, and set them up for academic and overall success.