August 19, 2026

The Partner College Weekly

ACTION REQUIRED

Last Chance Renewal Round is Closed!

Renewal Decisions will be emailed to Scholars on August 28, 2026.

Eligibility statuses will be updated prior to Renewal Decision emails being sent. Once these statuses are updated, you will know exactly who is eligible for funds for the 2026-27 academic year.

Questions: Yajaira.Gonzalez@thedream.us

Summer EVRs

ISTS is currently processing the final batch of Summer 2026 EVRs and payments will be sent by August 31, 2026.

To check your Summer 2026 EVR Status, please click here.

Heads up: Fall 2026 EVR instructions will be sent at the end of this month.

MUST KNOW

2026-2027 Updates for our Partner Colleges

On Monday, President & CEO, Gaby Pacheco communicated to our Partner College Presidents and Primary Relationship Managers the following key updates for the 2026-2027 Academic Year:

Special, One-Time $500 Grant to be disbursed to all Scholars enrolled this Fall
National Scholarship Award Increase from up to $8,250 to up to $9,000 per year for tuition and mandatory fees – effective Fall 2027
Leadership Call for Partner College Presidents and Primary Relationship Managers on Monday, August 24 at 1 pm ET / 12 pm CT / 10 am PT

We will be following up with TheDream.US Teams on campus with more details and specific instructions for the one-time $500 Grant and award increase for the upcoming application round in upcoming PC Power Hours and PC Weeklies.

Read the full email here.

Questions: Hyein.Lee@thedream.us

2026 New Scholar Welcome: Hope. Dream. Act.

On August 6, almost 800 New Scholars, Current Scholars and Partner College staff attended our 2026 New Scholar Welcome nationwide.

It was a momentous occasion where Scholars were welcomed and supported by our community. Guest speakers were inspiring in delivering the message that our Scholars belong, and we will continue to advocate to open opportunities and a better future for Dreamers.

If you were unable to attend the event or just need a refresher to feel inspired, you can watch the full event here.

Shoutout to our 18 PCs that were able to host a watch party on campus, we know our Scholars appreciated the opportunity to watch in community!

Brooklyn College
Dominican University
Farmingdale State College
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Lynn University
Metropolitan State University of Denver

Nevada State College
Northern Arizona University
Phoenix College
Rutgers University – New Brunswick
Salem State University
Southern Connecticut State University

University of Colorado Denver
University of Massachusetts Boston
University of Nevada - Las Vegas
University of St. Thomas
Weber State University
York College

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

August PC Power Hour - TheDream.US Fall Overview: Everything you need to know to support your Scholars this semester

PC Power Hours are back after taking the summer off. Join us for our first session to get ahead of all our Fall 2026 programming and important deadlines. Make sure you know about resources available to our Partner Colleges and Scholars.

We'll share updates on Summer Housekeeping items, the one-time $500 Grant, National Scholarship award increase for 2027-2028, Internships and Fellowships, and so much more. Do not miss this overview session!

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 11 am PT

Link to attend

Passcode: FA01PCPH!

Looking ahead: Please check our calendar for the full Fall 2026 Power Hour Schedule. (password: collegedream)

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

Attention: Important Update for DACA Scholars & Alumni
Traveling on Advanced Parole

On August 13, the Board of Immigration Appeals issued a decision that may significantly affect certain immigrants who travel outside the United States using Advance Parole, including those with DACA status. Under the new decision, traveling on Advance Parole may create serious immigration consequences for individuals who have accumulated significant unlawful presence, including potentially triggering a 3 or 10-year bar to returning to the United States. This is an important change from previous guidance.

See here for key information on what Scholars need to know.

REMINDER: Let Us Know of Scholar Emergency Cases

As the first in line of contact with our Scholars on-campus, we deeply appreciate your immediate notification of a Scholar’s immigration emergency. To help us identify and determine whether TheDream.US can assist with a Scholar’s immigration case in any way, please bookmark this form. Complete the form as soon as you are aware of a Scholar that is:

Detained, facing removal (not detained), deported
Self-deported or intends to self-deport
Experiencing DACA renewal issues

Questions? Email Susan.Collins@thedream.us

SCHOLAR PROGRAMMING

Summer Career Series Recordings + Resources Now Available

Our 2026 Summer Career Series wrapped up at the end of July, and we’re grateful to all Partner Colleges that helped spread the word! Also a special shout out to our 7 Partner Colleges that hosted live screenings of the event on their campus: Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago, BMCC, Dominican University, ECSU, MSU Denver, San Antonio College, and UNLV!

Session recordings are now available here . All recordings are private (unlisted) so individuals will need the direct link to view. Please do not share these links publicly. NOTE: the first 2 session recordings will only be accessible until August 31, 2026.

Additional resources, including presentation slides, can be found here.

San Antonio College’s Scholars and Alumni attending their on-campus live screening of the 2026 Summer Career Series!

Please share with your Scholars and Alumni. NOTE: All individuals who registered for the Summer Career Series will be emailed this information.

P.S. Interested in attending another virtual career conference? The UndocuProfessionals Network invites you to register for their 2026 UndocuProfessionals Conference happening Monday, August 24 and Tuesday, August 25. This conference will bring together undocumented students, immigrant professionals, entrepreneurs, allies, and community leaders to build connections, gain practical career resources, and strengthen community. Note there is a conference registration fee.

TheDream.US Graduate Loan Scholarship Round Closing Soon!

TheDream.US Graduate Loan Scholarship Program is closing soon! These funds are available to any TheDream.US Alumni with or without DACA or TPS, taking out a private graduate school loan for the 2026-2027 academic year. This scholarship is designed to help lessen Alumni’s loan debt and the amount that needs to be paid back once they complete their graduate studies.

The private loans can be from any company including the Dreamers Graduate Loan Program, Discover, Ascend, Self-Help, etc. The deadline for this year’s graduate loan scholarship is August 31, 2026 at 11:59 pm PT.

For more information on this program, visit our Graduate Resources Page. Alumni can apply through their ISTS Scholar Portal (program key: Dreamgraduate).

Questions? Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

USCIS Application Fee Loans

Through our partnership with Mission Asset Fund (MAF), TheDream.US is providing zero interest, zero fee loans to help Scholars/Alum pay their USCIS application fee for a variety of change of status requests. They can request an USCIS Application Fee Loan for green cards, citizenship, family petition, DACA, TPS, and more. These loans are available to our Scholars and Alum nationwide.

Scholars and Alum only pay back exactly what they borrow within a ten-month span, while also building their credit. Check out the details of the program on MAF’s website.

Questions? Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

1-1 Immigration Screenings for Current Scholars

Screenings are designed to help your Scholars understand their immigration status and any options available for adjustment. Now more than ever, it is important for your Scholars to have access to an immigration attorney they can trust. Screenings are free, confidential and will not affect their scholarship in any way.

We need your help to encourage Scholars to sign up by completing the Initial Screening Request Form. If they have already completed one of our screenings, they should not submit a new request.

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

RESOURCES FOR YOU

Critical Legal Memo: In-State Tuition & Scholarships for Undocumented Students

We want to make sure you and your leadership teams have this important resource: In-State Tuition and Scholarships for Undocumented Students: What Institutions Should Know.

This legal memo, prepared by the Presidents' Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, provides high-level guidance for college presidents and general counsels on how institutions can lawfully offer in-state tuition and scholarships to undocumented Dreamer students. We encourage you to read it and share it with your leadership and legal teams to ensure your campus is aligned with the latest considerations.

Toolkit- How to Support Detained or Deported Students

TheDream.US in collaboration with Presidents’ Alliance and Institutional Solutions created the “Steps Campuses can Take to Support Detained or Deported Students ”, a resource designed to help colleges and universities take a proactive approach in identifying and providing appropriate support for students, faculty, and staff in the event of detention or deportation. Review the guide for helpful tips you can implement on your campus!

Questions? Email Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

PC Career Development Events Fund

Your college can get up to a $2,000 grant to host a Career Event for Scholars this Fall regardless of work authorization. Events should primarily focus on NEBOs, entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and independent contract work.

Check out our toolkit for helpful suggestions on event structures and key learning objectives. Apply now to reserve your funds for a Spring or Fall event.

Questions? Email Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

EMAILS TO SCHOLARS