The new scholarship program will provide financial support for incoming international students who are committed to furthering the #YouAreWelcomeHere message through intercultural exchanges at their future campuses.

“We need more programs that encourage international students to choose the United States”

The institutions joining the program are Concordia College in Minnesota; Eastern Michigan University; James Madison University in Virginia; University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Purdue University Northwest in Indiana; Western New England University in Massachusetts; and in Washington, Seattle University and Shoreline Community College.

Participating colleges and universities will offer an annual, renewable scholarship that covers a minimum of 50% of recipients’ tuition.

Temple University’s director of international admissions and campaign spokesperson Jessica Sandberg said the campaign has built new bridges of goodwill between US higher education and students worldwide.

“This scholarship… advances the campaign through meaningful action, adding concrete support for international students to our already well-received message and providing those students with a way to expand the conversation.”

Sandberg said she expects that many more HEIs will join the campaign in the coming months.

“We hope other colleges and universities will see the scholarship announcement as a call to action,” she said.

Sandberg told The PIE News that there is no cap on the number of awards or funds offered and that institutions are “welcome to offer more if their budgets permit”.

Since Temple expanded the campaign in 2016, more than 350 colleges and universities, 60 international education companies and organisations, and 20 high schools have joined.

CEO of NAFSA Esther D. Brimmer said that in the wake of the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from policy leaders, it’s vital that institutions find ways to make international students feel welcome and valued on US campuses.

“We need more programs that encourage international students to choose the United States as their study destination.

“Investing in international education will ensure our nation remains globally competitive and engaged, and I am heartened to see the US higher education community take a proactive stance in this effort.”