How can universities support refugee students beyond just academics?

Campuses can act like small cities, offering resources such as housing, cafeterias for community gatherings, libraries, and even art studios. Utilizing these spaces creatively can provide essential practical and social support.

What are some 'hidden' or less obvious resources on a college campus that can help refugee students?

Beyond standard services, campuses can leverage student clubs (especially international student groups), career services for resume building, alumni networks for mentorship, and even athletic teams for community-building events like coat drives.

What challenges might campuses face when trying to support refugee students?

Challenges can include lack of coordination between departments, administrative misalignment with the mission, and perceived financial limitations. Overcoming these requires strong communication and building broad community support.

What are the main needs of a refugee student like 'Hazem' arriving from a camp to a US college?

Hazem would need academic advising, and support networks for housing, transportation, food, and clothing. Access to financial aid and the international student office are also crucial for his first year.

How does an F1 visa status affect the support needs of a student like 'Ajax'?

An F1 student like Ajax may need assistance with obtaining essential items like a computer and a Social Security Number, navigating campus and local transportation, and connecting with student organizations for adjustment. The international student office is critical for maintaining her immigration status.

What are key actors and advocates needed for successful refugee student integration on campus?

Critical stakeholders include university leadership for buy-in, faculty and staff for understanding and flexibility, and student champions who can build networks. Collaboration with local resettlement agencies and community groups is also vital.

What are the specific needs of a family with mixed immigration statuses (TPS, Asylum Seeker, Parolee) seeking higher education?

Such families require diverse support, including mentoring, information on cultural and religious life, culturally appropriate food access, legal support for different statuses, and institutional support through policy changes.

Create Welcoming Campus Communities – Empower Refugee Students (PART 1) - Migration Summit 2023

MIT OpenCourseWare

Education3 min read45 min video

Apr 17, 2023|54 views|2

migration displacement livelihoods refugees education workforce development MIT ReACT storytelling migration summit

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Universities can support refugee students through diverse programs, resources, and community engagement, leveraging existing infrastructure.

Key Insights

Universities can act as micro-ecosystems, offering various facilities and programs to support refugee students.

Diverse statuses of refugee and displaced students (e.g., F1, parole, TPS, asylum) require tailored support.

Leveraging existing campus resources like career services, student clubs, and academic departments is crucial.

Community sponsorship and co-sponsorship models offer frameworks for university involvement in refugee resettlement.

Building strong campus-wide buy-in and identifying key advocates are essential for successful integration programs.

Financial support, cultural integration, and access to essential services like housing and food are primary needs.

THE MIGRATION SUMMIT AND WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

The session, part of the larger Migration Summit 2023 organized by MIT Refugee Action Hub, focuses on empowering refugee students within university settings. This workshop, the first of two, aims to build bridges between displaced learners and educational institutions. The overarching theme is creating pathways for learning, livelihood, and dignity. The workshop seeks to increase understanding of the role campuses can play in supporting displaced students, whether they are entering the U.S. or already residing within it. Key objectives include discussing available campus resources, identifying successful strategies for mobilizing support, and highlighting the benefits of welcoming refugee students to campus communities.

UNDERSTANDING THE TYPOLOGY OF DISPLACED STUDENT STATUSES

The workshop addresses various statuses under which refugee and displaced students may enter or reside in the U.S., impacting their needs and support systems. These include students coming through a private university sponsorship program (currently envisioned, not yet established in the U.S.), those involved in co-sponsorship with U.S. resettlement agencies, students arriving on F1 international student visas, and those with humanitarian or protected statuses like pending asylum, humanitarian parole (e.g., for Afghans, Ukrainians, Venezuelans), or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). It's noted that parole and TPS do not directly lead to permanent residency, which is a significant consideration for long-term planning.

HARNESSING CAMPUS RESOURCES FOR REFUGEE STUDENT INTEGRATION

Campuses are likened to small cities with a wealth of resources that can be creatively utilized to support refugee students. These include physical spaces like housing, cafeterias, libraries, and recreational facilities, which can serve practical needs and act as community gathering points. Beyond tangible assets, colleges possess rich networks of alumni, current students, faculty, and staff who can offer mentorship, support, and practical assistance. Tutoring programs, English language learning initiatives, student clubs (especially international student organizations), and career services are vital for academic and professional development, demonstrating how existing structures can be adapted.

BUILDING COMMUNITY SUPPORT AND MOBILIZING ADVOCATES

Successfully integrating refugee students requires mobilizing campus 'champions' and securing broader institutional and community buy-in. This involves identifying and building alliances with key advocates across departments and among student groups, alumni, and even retired staff. The energy and capacity inherent in a campus community can be harnessed for initiatives such as coat drives or community service projects. Overcoming challenges like departmental silos and administrative alignment requires strong communication and a compelling pitch, often supported by evidence of community willingness to assist, which can then translate into campus-wide and broader community support.

CASE STUDY DISCUSSIONS: NEEDS, RESOURCES, AND ADVOCATES

Breakout groups explored various case studies representing different student scenarios. Common needs identified across groups included academic advising, essential items (clothing, computers), financial aid, social integration and community building, transportation, and ongoing language support. Identified resources frequently mentioned were international student services, tutoring centers, student organizations, career services, and connections to local immigrant and refugee communities. Critical actors and stakeholders highlighted were university leadership, faculty, diverse staff, student champions, and community partners, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts.

ADDRESSING CHALLENGES AND CALLS TO ACTION

Key challenges discussed include securing tuition support, coordinating between departments, and gaining administrative alignment. However, the emphasis remains on the vast potential of community support to offset financial concerns. While this specific workshop focused on U.S. campuses, its themes are relevant globally. The presenters shared their contact information, inviting ongoing engagement and awareness of future programs. While the second workshop would be similar in content, attendees were encouraged to invite colleagues who might benefit, promoting wider dissemination of best practices for creating welcoming and supportive campus environments for refugee students.

Mentioned in This Episode

●Organizations

●Concepts

●People Referenced

Creating Welcoming Campus Communities for Refugee Students: Key Strategies

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Identify and utilize diverse campus resources (housing, cafeteria, library, art studios, career services).

Leverage existing networks: alumni, current students, faculty, staff, and community partners.

Partner with immigrant and refugee communities for support and cultural guidance.

Offer tutoring, English language support, and academic advising.

Facilitate connections with student organizations and international student services.

Ensure faculty and staff are understanding and flexible regarding students' circumstances.

Mobilize campus champions and build alliances with university leadership.

Explore financial aid and tuition support options.

Provide professional development and cultural humility training for staff and faculty.

Address practical needs like clothing, food security, and access to essential supplies (e.g., 'design closet').

Avoid This

Assume limited financial resources; explore community support extensively.

Operate in departmental silos; promote interdepartmental coordination.

Rely solely on low-hanging fruit; think creatively about utilizing all campus facilities.

View support as charity; focus on creating access and opportunity.

Neglect the importance of diverse staff and faculty representation.

Underestimate the need for legal support for students with various statuses.

Forget to consider cultural and religious needs, including culturally appropriate food.

Common Questions

Students may arrive on various statuses including F1 international student visas, humanitarian parole (like for Afghans and Ukrainians), pending asylum cases, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS). These statuses significantly impact their needs and access to resources.

Topics

Refugee Students Campus Community Immigration Status F1 Visa Humanitarian Parole Asylum Seekers TPS Holders Campus Resources Student Integration University Sponsorship

Mentioned in this video

personOlivia Issa

Program Lead for the Refugee Resettlement Initiative (RRI) at the National Association of System Heads.

conceptSyrian

Refers to a Syrian refugee in Jordan as an example in a case study for private university sponsorship targeting higher education pathways.

organizationNational Association of System Heads

Organization where Olivia Issa is the program lead for the Refugee Resettlement Initiative (RRI).

organizationRefugee Resettlement Initiative

An initiative led by Olivia Issa and managed by Jane Roach at the National Association of System Heads, focused on refugee resettlement.

organizationEvery Campus of Refuge

An organization whose guests have utilized art studios and participated in jam sessions with faculty and students, and which leans on community support for items and financial literacy programs.

personKathleen Herbst

Program Coordinator of Every Campus Refugee at Guilford College and Outreach Specialist for Every Campus Around Each.

conceptVenezuelans

A population for whom the Biden administration has opened humanitarian parole programs.

organizationEvery Campus Refugee

An organization focused on supporting refugees on campuses, with Kathleen Herbst serving as Program Coordinator.

organizationHoward University

University specifically mentioned in Group 3's case study for student Ajax, who received an 85% scholarship.

conceptAfghans

Mentioned as a population currently admitted to the US under humanitarian parole programs following the fall of Kabul.

conceptUkrainians

Mentioned as a population currently admitted to the US under humanitarian parole programs, specifically through 'Uniting for Ukraine'.

personNeil Fatman

Works for the Community Sponsorship Hub and focuses on how universities and colleges can support refugee students.

personJane Roach

Program Manager for the Nash Refugee Resettlement Initiative, working alongside Olivia.

organizationNaman Crown Foundation

One of the organizing bodies for the Migration Summit 2023.

organizationCommunity Sponsorship Hub

An organization based in New York with a mission to empower communities across the United States to welcome refugees, with a focus on supporting refugee students in universities and colleges.

conceptMigration Summit 2023