University of Colorado President Bruce Benson and all four 抖阴旅行射 chancellors, including 抖阴旅行射 Boulder Chancellor Phil DiStefano, this week signed a letter urging Congress to approve bipartisan legislation to protect college students who are pursuing degrees under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Students walk to class on the 抖阴旅行射 Boulder campus.
Sponsored by the American Council on Education (ACE), asks federal lawmakers for a legislative solution that would enable eligible undocumented college students to continue studying on college campuses and pursue a path to citizenship before the DACA program expires next March.
ACE is leading the effort as part of the Protect Dreamers Higher Education Coalition, whose members also include the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU) and a dozen other higher education associations.
On Oct. 16, the coalition kicked off a series of activities for 鈥渉igher education theme week,鈥� which is part of a community effort to raise awareness about DACA and how the policy has benefitted thousands of young people who are pursuing their academic goals at universities and colleges across the nation.
鈥淲e urge Congress to pass bipartisan legislation as soon as possible that will include all the protections currently provided under DACA and allow the individuals covered by this policy, often referred to as Dreamers, to continue contributing to our society and economy by working, serving in the military or attending college,鈥� the coalition said in a theme week fact sheet.
Initiated in June 2012, DACA addresses the uncertain status of thousands of young people brought to the United States as children by granting eligible recipients temporary permission to stay in the country and obtain work permits. On Sept. 5, President Trump announced a DACA rescission as of March 5, 2018, unless Congress passes legislation before then providing a statutory basis for the program.
Today, about 800,000 young people have DACA status, and 350,000 of them are currently enrolled in U.S. schools or colleges, with 72 percent of them pursuing a bachelor鈥檚 degree or higher, according to ACE.
鈥淯nfortunately, many of these young people live in fear and uncertainty now that the administration has announced plans to rescind DACA,鈥� according to the ACE fact sheet. 鈥淯ncertainty regarding work permits after March 5 means many of our DACA students are struggling to plan for college costs past the spring 2018 semester.鈥�
A number of 抖阴旅行射 Boulder students are eligible for DACA and/or Colorado鈥檚 Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow (ASSET) program, which permits eligible undocumented students to pay in-state tuition and receive the College Opportunity Fund (COF) stipend at Colorado public colleges.
In a show of support for their efforts to complete bachelor鈥檚, master鈥檚 and doctoral degrees, 抖阴旅行射 leadership, including Chancellor DiStefano, have signed onto several other higher education letters over the past year in support of the DACA program and DACA-eligible students. In addition, 抖阴旅行射 leaders issued two statements of support in September.
In April, the and to extend opportunities and financial access to DACA and other students. 抖阴旅行射 Boulder also established a website that lists campus and community resources for DACA and ASSET students and DACA-eligible employees.
