November 12th Issue

In this week’s Higher Ed Immigration Portal Newsletter


  • Director's Desk 
  • Campus Corner
  • State Policy Updates
  • New Survey  
  • Upcoming Events

Director's Desk

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration invites higher education leaders and stakeholders to a post-election briefing on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. During this virtual event, an expert panel will discuss the critical implications of the recent election for the higher education community, with a primary focus on immigration policy priorities for the forthcoming Congress and administration. This event will offer actionable guidance on how campuses can support their immigrant and international students during this time and provide a glimpse into the implications of the post-election policy landscape.

Register Here!

New FAFSA Survey 


Were you or your students impacted by the 2024-2025 FAFSA? The Presidents’ Alliance is launching a comprehensive initiative to assess the impact of the 2024-2025 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on students, families, counselors, and financial aid professionals. 


Please help us out by filling out and sharing this 5-minute survey. Answers will be used to support the Department of Education’s efforts to improve the 2025-2026 FAFSA and to develop resources that facilitate FAFSA completion. 


Respondents also have the opportunity to complete a short interview with our research team about their experiences. They can indicate their interest at the end of the survey or email Corinne at corinne@presidentsalliance.org. We invite you to share this opportunity widely. 


For up-to-date news and resources, visit the FAFSA Hub on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal.

Take the survey!

Campus Corner

New resources and tools for campus leaders, practitioners, and policymakers.

Refugee/Displaced Students



ICYMI - Bringing the World to Campus through Refugee Resettlement – Opportunities for Student Service Webinar

On October 24, the Supporting Higher Education in Refugee Resettlement (SHERR) co-hosted a webinar with Refugee Welcome Collective. This webinar showcased several models of partnerships between universities and resettlement organizations that allow students to engage with refugee communities while achieving key educational goals and expanding their global and community awareness and commitment to public service. Service Learning & Volunteer Engagement is one of the pathways highlighted on the Refugee Resource Hub for institutions interested in supporting refugee resettlement. You can watch the webinar here. To learn more about the different pathways of engagement, register to join one of the SHERR’s upcoming webinar here. You can also access resources, tools, and training to support the work of colleges and universities desiring to engage or already engaged in supporting refugee students and non-students, visit the Refugee Resource Hub on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal here.

Legal Pathways that Work Hub

The Legal Pathways that Work Resource Hub has been updated to include resources for international students. Previously under construction, this section is now live and accessible. The hub provides valuable information on the Biden administration's executive action to streamline access to employment-based visas and D-3 waivers for college graduates, including Dreamers, both with and without DACA. This comprehensive resource hub offers a suite of immigration legal resources, webinars, and other tools to support access to employment-based visas and careers in the U.S. post-graduation for non-citizen students and graduates, such as Dreamers. For more information about the hub, please contact Anita Gupta, Managing Attorney of Legal Programs and Initiatives (anita@presidentsalliance.org).

Undocumented Students

Register Now and Help Spread the Word About the SUCCESS 2025 Convening


Registration is now open for the third Supporting Undocumented Students’ College & Career Equity: Strategies for Success (SUCCESS) Convening, to be held September 11-12, 2025 at the University of Illinois Chicago! The Presidents’ Alliance and our organizational and campus co-hosts – including Immigrants Rising, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the Illinois Institute of Technology – invite you to mark your calendars and register today.


Register Today and Find Key Details: Over two days, campus participants, organizational experts, and advocates will come together to share cutting-edge programming. We are expecting over 500 participants from 125+ higher education institutions and 30+ organizations, including undocumented students, recent graduates, and entrepreneurs. We anticipate that at least a quarter of the attendees will be directly impacted or formerly impacted individuals.


Who Should Attend

  • Campus leaders hoping to make their campus more welcoming to undocumented students.
  • Campus staff and faculty working with undocumented students, including general counsels, career development, student support services, academic advising, financial aid, and graduate or professional programs.
  • Impacted undergraduate and/or graduate students who want to learn more about collegiate and career options
  • Leaders and representatives of immigration and education organizations supporting undocumented students in higher education.
  • Impacted immigrant entrepreneurs and alumni, especially those engaged in efforts to expand access to post-graduate and career opportunities.
  • Representatives from across the higher ed sector are encouraged to attend, including community colleges, liberal arts colleges, public and private research universities, faith-based institutions, HBCUs, HSIs, and MSIs.


Non-Member Registration:

This year we are offering early bird pricing for non-member institutions! Use code earlybird to receive a 10% discount on the regular registration fee. Early bird pricing is valid until April 30, 2025. We encourage you to register soon!


Member Registration:

Presidents' Alliance member campuses and affiliate partner organizations are eligible for a 30% discount on the registration rates until registration closes in September 2025.

UndocuResource Day


This month, we had the privilege of participating in Undocu Resource Day at the University of Denver, where we connected with dedicated educators and advocates from across Colorado to share our K-12 Advising Guide: Supporting Undocumented Students with the College Process. 


The event provided a meaningful platform to discuss:

  • Key challenges and opportunities specific to undocumented students in Colorado
  • Effective strategies for fostering inclusive and supportive advising practices
  • Resources to help students and educators navigate financial aid and admissions pathways



Together, we explored critical resources to help both students and educators navigate financial aid and admissions pathways. It was inspiring to see the commitment from Colorado's educational community, and we are grateful for the opportunity to support their work. We look forward to continuing this important collaboration and creating impactful resources for all undocumented students.

Policy Corner

Policy tools and resources.

State Pages Updates

On August 9, 2024, the Illinois Governor signed S.B.0461, a bill that amends current law to expand in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students. Effective July 1, 2026, the criteria for in-state tuition will change. Students will qualify for in-state tuition if they meet one of two sets of requirements. To read the requirements, please visit the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. 


Additionally, Mississippi was reclassified from “Limited to DACA” to “No State Policy” on the Higher Ed Immigration Portal. This means there are no known policies on access to in-state tuition or state financial aid for the state's DACA recipients and undocumented students.

Upcoming Events

Post-Election Briefing: Implications for Immigration and Higher Education


The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration invites higher education leaders and stakeholders to a post-election briefing on Friday, November 15, 2024, at 2 p.m. ET. This briefing aims to equip campus leaders with a clear understanding of the post-election policy landscape and provide actionable steps they can take to advocate for and support immigrant, international, and refugee students. Panelists will cover legislative prospects, anticipated challenges, and key policy issues impacting these student populations. Topics will include potential developments in the DACA case, visa policies, and the new administration’s approach to refugee admissions and sponsorship pathways, among others. 


Join us to gain valuable insights from policy experts and higher ed leaders, share perspectives with peers, and explore effective strategies to support immigrant, international, and refugee students on your campus.

Register Here!

December Portal Partner Meeting


Join us on Thursday, December 12th at 2pm EST/11am PST for the final partner meeting of the year. During this meeting, the Portal Director will provide an overview of the 2024 year, an update on the portal refresh, and discuss goals and growth for 2025. If you have any questions about this meeting, please contact Felecia Russell, Director, Higher Ed Immigration Portal (felecia@presidentsalliance.org). 

Register for the Fall 2024 Community of Practice and Action Meetings



Join us for the remaining Supporting Undocumented Students in Graduate & Professional School meetings led by the Undocumented Community of Practice and Action (UndocuCoPA) group! Each session builds on the previous one for a holistic approach to supporting undocumented students, from selecting a graduate program to creating welcoming spaces and securing funding.  

Register here

Thank you for your support and engagement.


The Higher Ed Immigration Portal Team

Portal Resources

Subscribe to this Newsletter

Communities of Practice

Get In Touch
LinkedIn  X  YouTube