College and University Leaders Launch “Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration”

December 12, 2017

Whittier College President Sharon Herzberger has joined dozens of leaders in higher education in launching 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 first undertaking by the Alliance and its member presidents will be to urge Congress to protect the Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals program with permanent legislation. 

A letter previously issued and signed by more than 700 college and university presidents, urges Congress to protect DACA recipients

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 on their website. 

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. To learn more, visit their website.