VCU joins colleges and universities across America to support Afghan refugees
New ‘Welcome Campus Network’ will amplify wide-ranging efforts of higher education institutions
Contact: Nicol Tinsley
VCU Global Education Office
(804) 828-6463
nctinsley@vcu.edu
Richmond, VA (Dec. 13, 2021) — Virginia Commonwealth University has joined with more than two dozen colleges and universities across the country to launch the Welcome Campus Network, a coalition dedicated to increasing access to higher education for newly arriving Afghan students. The initiative will amplify the work of higher education institutions as they welcome and support newly arrived Afghan refugees.
By participating in this initiative, VCU is demonstrating its commitment as a welcoming campus and showing support to refugees from Afghanistan," said Jill Blondin, Ph.D., executive director of the Global Education Office at VCU, who represented VCU at a roundtable last week hosted by White House and U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona.
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 provide help to the refugees as needed.
“Institutions of higher education have a huge role to play in supporting the success of Afghan newcomers — and facilitating their tremendous contributions,” said Welcome.US CEO Nazanin Ash.“Universities have long been engaged in lifting the voices of Afghan leaders and supporting greater access to education and opportunity for Afghans. 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.”
Joining Welcome.US is VCU’s latest initiative that supports Afghan refugees. Since the start of the national security emergency in Afghanistan last fall, VCU has developed a guide to provide admission support for refugees.
In addition, members of VCU's Student Veterans Association worked to gather donations for those temporarily housed at Fort Lee and Fort Pickett, VA; faculty and students in the School of Dentistry are creating dental supply kits for refugees; and students in VCU Globe volunteered at King's Dominion Amusement Park to raise funds donated to ReEstablish Richmond, a local organization that connects refugees and new immigrants to resources needed to establish roots, build community, and become self-sufficient.
The roundtable held last week was 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 featured 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 also highlighted 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.