U.S.​ ​College​ ​&​ ​University​ ​Leaders​ ​Launch “Presidents’​ ​Alliance​ ​on​ ​Higher​ ​Education​ ​and​ ​Immigration” Ramping​ ​Up​ ​Campus,​ ​Public​ ​Education​ ​&​ ​Advocacy​ ​Efforts

Call on Congress to Pass Legislation Protecting Dreamers

WASHINGTON,​ ​DC​ – Today, more than two dozen distinguished American higher education leaders of public
and private universities and university systems, liberal arts colleges, and community colleges representing
hundreds of thousands of students, faculty, and staff from institutions across the United States launched the
Presidents’​ ​Alliance​ ​on​ ​Higher​ ​Education​ ​and​ ​Immigration​, a collective effort to improve how colleges and
universities address immigration-related matters affecting their campuses. The Alliance will support adoption of
best practices on campuses, and work in a unified manner to communicate the need for federal and state policies
that create a welcoming environment for immigrant, undocumented, and international students.
The Founding group of presidents and chancellors and the institution they lead include: Leon Botstein, Bard
College​, NY; Sylvia Burwell, American​ ​University​, DC; Angel Cabrera, George​ ​Mason​ ​University​, VA;
Nancy Cantor, Rutgers​ ​University-Newark​, NJ; Noelle Cockett, Utah​ ​State​ ​University​, UT; Shirley Collado,
Ithaca​ ​College​, NY; Michael Crow, Arizona​ ​State​ ​University​, AZ; José Luis Cruz, Lehman​ ​College,​ ​CUNY​,
NY; John J. DeGioia, Georgetown​ ​University​, DC; Christopher Eisgruber, Princeton​ ​University​, NJ; Mark H.
Erickson, Northampton​ ​Community​ ​College​, PA; Drew Faust, Harvard​ ​University​, MA; Jane Fernandes,
Guilford​ ​College​, NC; Elizabeth Hillman,​ ​Mills​ ​College​, CA; Kent Ingle, Southeastern​ ​University​, FL; Paula
Johnson, Wellesley​ ​College​, MA; Elizabeth Kiss, Agnes​ ​Scott​ ​College​, GA; Thomas LeBlanc, George
Washington​ ​University​, DC; Dorothy Leland, University​ ​of​ ​California​ ​-​ ​Merced​, CA; Patricia McGuire,
Trinity​ ​Washington​ University​, DC; Diana Natalicio, University​ ​of​ ​Texas​ ​-​ ​El​ ​Paso;​ TX, Eduardo Padrón,
Miami​ ​Dade​ ​College​, FL; Bart Patterson, Nevada​ ​State​ ​College​, NV; Lee Pelton, Emerson​ ​College​, MA;
Carol Quillen, Davidson​ ​College​, NC; M. David Rudd, University​ ​of​ ​Memphis​, TN; G. Gabrielle Starr,
Pomona​ ​College​, CA; and Timothy White, The​ ​California​ ​State​ ​University​, CA.

 

The Alliance is led by a Steering Committee that includes presidents and chancellors Nancy​ ​Cantor​, Rutgers
University-Newark, NJ; Noelle​ ​Cockett​, President, Utah State University, UT; John​ ​J.​ ​DeGioia​, Georgetown
University, DC; Dorothy​ ​Leland​, University of California – Merced, CA; David​ ​Oxtoby​, President Emeritus,
Pomona College, CA; Eduardo​ ​Padrón​, Miami Dade College, FL; and Timothy​ ​White​, The California State
University, CA.

 

The Alliance’s Founding Statement, Steering Committee, Founding Presidents and Membership can be found
at www.presidentsimmigrationalliance.org.

 

An Enduring Alliance
“In launching this new effort, we affirm the important contributions that our immigrant communities make to
higher education and to our nation’s future,” said​ ​John​ ​DeGioia,​ ​President​ ​of​ ​Georgetown​ ​University​. “I look
forward to our work together.”

“We call on all presidents to join us in using their voices to increase public understanding of how immigration
policies and practices impact our students, campuses, and communities and will increasingly determine the
future of our nation,” said Nancy​ ​Cantor,​ ​Chancellor​ ​of​ ​Rutgers​ ​University​ ​–Newark​. “We serve the nation
best when we help unleash the talent of those who have something to contribute, regardless of their immigration
status or place of birth.”

“Colleges and universities play an integral role in securing our nation’s well-being and prosperity through our
teaching, research, service, creative activities, and contributions to workforce and economic development,” said
Noelle​ ​Cockett,​ ​President​ ​of​ ​Utah​ ​State​ ​University.​ “In addition to being our friends and neighbors, the
immigrant and international students we are speaking out on behalf of are helping to drive innovation and
discovery on campuses and growth and entrepreneurship in workplaces across the country.”
“What we are starting is a long-term effort to affirm the importance of immigrants and immigration, and
educational opportunity, to our nation’s future and continued prosperity,” said​ ​Timothy​ ​White,​ ​Chancellor​ ​of
the​ ​California​ ​State​ ​University​. “It’s the right and the smart thing to do.”

Call for Action On DACA and Dreamers
“With the urgent threat that DACA recipients are currently facing, the Alliance and our member presidents’ first
undertaking will be to urge Congress to protect Dreamers with permanent legislation as soon as possible,” said
David​ ​Oxtoby,​ ​President​ ​Emeritus​ ​of​ ​Pomona​ ​College​, which previously issued a letter signed by more than
700 college and university presidents urging Congress to protect DACA recipients.

“The breadth of support for the Alliance and for Dreamers from higher education leaders across the country
underscores the high importance presidents place on the value of educating anyone and everyone with the talent
and drive to contribute to our country and the world,” said​ ​Dorothy​ ​Leland,​ ​Chancellor​ ​of​ ​U.C.​ ​Merced​.
“Our nation has benefited immeasurably from the hard work and dreams of those who first came to this country
as immigrants yearning for a better life and later came to study in our colleges and universities,”​ ​said​ Eduardo
Padrón,​ ​President​ ​of​ ​Miami​ ​Dade​ ​College​. “I’m thrilled to join this effort to help unleash the talent of
immigrant and undocumented students who are ready and eager to give back to their communities and states and
to our country.”

About​ ​the​ ​Presidents’​ ​Alliance​ ​on​ ​Higher​ ​Education​ ​and​ ​Immigration:​ ​The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher
Education and Immigration is an alliance of American college and university leaders dedicated to increasing
public understanding of how immigration policies and practices impact our students, campuses and
communities. We support policies that create a welcoming environment for immigrant, undocumented and
international students on our campuses. Learn more at www.presidentsimmigrationalliance.org.