Announcing the 2026-2027 EVR Schedule! 

Starting next week, we will begin accepting Fall EVRs. Fall EVRs are due Friday, October 30. We encourage you to submit as early as possible to avoid any last-minute issues!

On behalf of Camila, Elena will reach out later this week with the EVR instructions and further details on the one-time $500 grant.

Questions: AskUs@thedream.us

Late Round Renewal Decisions to Go Out this Week!

All late renewal round applications are being reviewed this week, and all Scholars will receive email notifications by ISTS on Friday, August 28. All Scholar statuses will be updated in the “PC Scholar Report”, found in the ISTS PC Portal by the end of today.

Scholars that did not complete a late Renewal Firm will not be eligible to receive funds in the 2026-2027 Academic Year. 

Questions: AskUs@thedream.us

Watch Recording of Leadership Call

On Monday August 24, TheDream.US leaders spoke to Partner College Presidents and Primary Relationship Managers, detailing key updates from TheDream.US and to kick off the new semester.

If you couldn't make it, watch the recording HERE.

Questions: Hyein.Lee@thedream.us 

2026-2027 Updates for our Partner Colleges

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
• 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 

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

Our welcome back PC Power Hour for the Fall semester was full of special announcements. We have increased our overall National Scholarship Award, the special one-time $500 grant will be provided to all Scholars enrolled in the Fall semester, and we introduced our new Director of Higher Education Strategy and Partnerships.

In addition to these announcements, our team shared several updates on your scholarship management for this Fall, Career and Scholar resources, as well as trends we are seeing our Scholars face in the current climate. To learn more about these important deadlines and resources, you can review the slides and recording of the session below.

Please view the presentation, the recording, and Zoom AI Summary.

See past PC Power Hour Recordings and Presentations.

Next PC Power Hour:

Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 2 pm ET / 1pm CT / 11 am PT

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

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

Welcome Dr. Angela "Ru" Chen as Our New Director of Higher Education Strategy and Partnerships

TheDream.US is proud to announce that Dr. Angela "Ru" Chen started this week as TheDream.US Director of Higher Education Strategy and Partnerships. Dr. Chen will help strengthen our Partner College network and support our Scholars in achieving academic success, graduating, and entering meaningful careers. 

Dr. Chen comes to TheDream.US with nearly twenty years of experience advancing equity and institutional transformation for immigrant and underserved students. She most recently served as Director of the DREAM Center at the University of California, Irvine, where she led strategic planning, institutional policy, and program development for one of the largest undocumented student populations in the UC system.

Join us in welcoming Ru to TheDream.US team!

TheDream.US PC New Staff Orientations

These New Staff Onboarding Orientations will provide an overview of our program, expectations for staff in designated roles, and key dates and processes, as well as the resources available to help you support our Scholars on your campus!

Sign up for one of our upcoming monthly sessions this Fall. Our first session will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 11 am PT.

Fall 2026 Sessions:

• Monday, September 14, 2026, at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 11 am PT.
• Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 11 am PT.
• Monday, November 9, 2026, at 2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 11 am PT.

If you are new to working with TheDream.US or a veteran that needs a refresher, sign-up today.

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  

Paid Internship & Fellowship Opportunities for Scholars

2026 New Scholar Welcome: Hope. Dream. Act.

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

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 Fall or Spring event. 

Questions? Email Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

For Partner College Directory and Staff changes, please submit updates via our One-Off Update Form. 

For all emails sent to Scholars, go here

For Past PC Weeklys, go here

For Calendar of Events, go here