Ukrainian Students & Scholars: Policy & Campus Resources

Ukrainian Students & Scholars: Policy & Campus Resources

The war in Ukraine and the resulting humanitarian crisis have accelerated a call to action by colleges and universities to support refugees and displaced students worldwide. We strongly condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The war has not only caused thousands of civilian deaths and forced millions of Ukrainians to flee, but also has led thousands of Russians to seek safety from their repressive regime, including those in academia. We express solidarity with all of these impacted students and scholars currently on our campuses and stand eager to welcome scholars and enroll additional students seeking education and safety. The Presidents’ Alliance is gathering resources to share with campuses on how to support Ukrainian students and scholars.  

Understanding Pathways & Campus Resources– President Biden announced that 100,000 people forced to flee Ukraine can seek safe haven in the United States—beginning April 25 they can apply to come under a new program, “Uniting for Ukraine.” We have partnered with Welcome.US to amplify the call to action for 100,000 Americans to step up as sponsors and welcomers for Ukrainian newcomers. The Presidents’ Alliance has created a one-pager for colleges and universities to understand immigration pathways and resources available for Ukrainian students and scholars. 

Policy Updates for Ukrainian noncitizens who cannot be safely returned to their home countries, including over 100 DACA Ukrainian recipients and nearly 2,000 F-1 Ukrainian international students. 

• The Biden Administration issued an immediate designation of Temporary Protected Status, or TPS,to provide work permits and protection from deportation. 
• U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security paired Special Student Relief with TPS – announcing SSR for Ukrainian students in the United States. This relief allows eligible students to remain in the U.S. by suspending or altering rules regarding status, full course of study, and work eligibility during the designation period. 
• Higher education leaders should urge DHS to ensure efficient processing of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for those whose countries have been designated for TPS and SSR by automatically assuming they meet the conditions of Severe Economic Hardship.