Renewals 2026

ISTS will email 2026 Renewal notifications to Scholars this Friday, July 24. We gave Scholars a heads-up to be on the lookout for this email. 

PC Staff can now track Renewal decisions for Scholars by running the “PC Scholar Report” in your ISTS PC Portal and filtering on column AD.

If a Scholar receives a “Renewal Denied” email, they can find the exact reason for the denial by logging into their ISTS Scholar Portal and accessing their Participation Summary. 

Looking Ahead: If Scholars missed the initial Renewal deadline, they will have a final opportunity to renew their scholarship between August 4 and August 10. These Scholars will receive an email about the last chance round next week to prepare.  

Questions: Yajaira.Gonzalez@thedream.us

Summer Partner College Housekeeping: 
3 Action Items, DEADLINE NEXT WEEK: JULY 30, 2026

The majority of our Partner Colleges have completed at least 1 of the 3 PC Housekeeping action items.

The deadline to complete all 3 requests is coming up soon on July 30.

To check your Partner College's completion status, review our live tracker.

1. Annual PC Directory Updates

All campus Primary Relationship Managers (PRMs) were emailed a personalized link to review and make edits to your TheDream.US campus team directory. 


We are still missing Annual PC Directory Updates from the Following PCs:

• Arizona State University Online
• Barry University
• Baruch College
• Capella University
• Kingsborough Community College
• Portland State University
• Strayer University

For instructions on how to complete the form, watch this short video. For questions, email Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

2. Graduate Verification Report (GVR),

Partner Colleges must review Ineligible Scholars for whom we do not currently have a graduation record and provide any available graduation updates.

We are still missing GVRs from the following PCs:

• Arkansas Tech University
• Barry University
• Baruch College
• Benedictine University - Mesa
• Brooklyn College
• Colorado State University - Pueblo
• Dominican University
• Eastern Connecticut State University
• Grand Canyon University
• Kingsborough Community College
• North Park University
• Northeastern Illinois University
• Portland State University
• South Texas College
• University of Arizona
• University of Houston
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Massachusetts - Boston
• University of St. Francis
• Wingate University

For instructions on how to complete your GVR, click here. For questions, email Vernisa.Donaldson@thedream.us

3. Partner College Survey

This brief survey is an opportunity to share feedback about how partnership processes are working on your campus.

The survey was sent to PRMs, Scholar Advisors, Financial Aid Advisors, and EVR contacts from TheDream.US@qualtrics-survey.com with the subject line “TheDream.US 2026 Partner College Survey is Live!”. PRMs should ensure that all members of the campus support team who received the survey complete.

Questions: Vernisa.Donaldson@thedream.us

Summer Term EVR Deadline Coming Up on July 31!

The Partner Colleges on this list can submit Summer term EVRs once terms have started and classes are set. Note: Newly Awarded Scholars at these Partner Colleges are eligible for Summer funds if they have been fully admitted, and can be included in this EVR.

The deadline to submit the Summer EVR is July 31, 2026. We encourage you to submit as early as possible to avoid any last-minute issues!

We currently have 10 Partner Colleges that are eligible to submit a Summer EVR but have not yet confirmed whether they will submit one by the July 31 deadline.

We still need to hear back from the following Partner Colleges:

1. Kingsborough Community College
2. LaGuardia Community College
3. Medgar Evers College
4. Queensborough Community College
5. Stella and Charles Guttman Community College
6. University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
7. Weber State University

Whether or not your school plans to submit a Summer EVR, please email Camila.Salkov@TheDream.US to let us know your status as soon as possible. This helps us track accurately and close out this Summer EVR cycle.

Let us know if you have any questions! Camila.Salkov@TheDream.US

To check your Summer EVR Status, please click here.

Please make sure to read all the way through the EVR instructions to get a refresher on the process. This resource can be found in the Program Management section of our website.

2026 – 2027 New Scholar Welcome

Host an On-campus Screening

Our biggest event of the year, New Scholar Welcome is on Thursday, August 6 at 2 pm ET/ 1 pm CT / 11 am PT. 

This is a great opportunity to bring incoming Scholars together in community to meet their fellow Scholars on-campus and nation-wide before kicking off the semester. We hope you will host a livestream watch party of this event. This is also a great occasion to distribute your New Scholar Swag. If you have not received your swag items yet, please track them here.  

Let us know if you are hosting a screening and/or orientation through this form by Thursday, July 31, 2026. Whether you are hosting a watch party or not, we want to see you at the event - please be sure to register now.

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

Special Announcement: 
PC Career Events Fund - Summer Career Series Screenings Deadline: Today, July 22!

Your college can get up to a $2,000 grant to host a screening of our biggest career event of the year: the 2026 Summer Career Series!  

No programming needed, we got you. We are offering Partner Colleges the opportunity to bring your Scholars on campus to host a screening of TheDream.US Summer Career Series. Your college can host either one or both days of this event. TheDream.US PC Career Events Fund may be used to cover food, tech equipment, and other needed items to host this event on your campus. 

Since both days will have breakout rooms, we suggest Scholars bring their laptops and earphones to participate in the breakout sessions, while still on your campus. 

You must apply by today Wednesday, July 22 to be eligible for this special grant opportunity.

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

One Time $500 Grant Tracking Now Available!

ISTS has added a new column to your PC Scholar Report, “Scholar Survey Status” (column AC). You can use this column to track which Scholars completed their Scholar Survey and are eligible for the one-time $500 grant this Fall. We are also using this column to help you track the New Scholars and whether they are eligible for the grant by completing their “Scholar Commitments”.

Here is a reminder of the 4 mandatory requirements New Scholars must complete to receive the grant:

1. Complete their Scholar Commitment Form by August 6
2. Complete their Acknowledgement Form by August 6 
3. Complete their Initial Immigration Screening Form by August 6
4. Enroll in and attend classes this Fall 2026

New Scholars can check the completion of the items above via the “Your Commitments Hub” on their ISTS Scholar Portal. 

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

July 29 Session: DACA, Dreamers, and Campus Immigration Preparedness

The Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, Immigrants Rising, fwd.us, and TheDream.US are hosting a timely briefing on key developments affecting DACA recipients, Dreamers, and broader campus communities. The session will cover DACA renewal guidance, DACA recipients as employees, Dream legislation, tuition equity, and immigration enforcement concerns, including how those concerns may affect a range of campus populations, from undocumented students to international students, scholars, and faculty.

Wednesday, July 29, 2026

2 pm ET / 1 pm CT / 11 am PT

Register here

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  

TheDream.US Private Film Screening: Almost American

We're excited to invite you to a private screening of Almost American, a short documentary (15 minutes) that follows Samuel Soliman — a DACA recipient — as he turns the camera on his own life to explore resilience, identity, and the realities of immigration in America. 

This intimate, timely film offers a powerful lens into the experiences many of TheDream.US Scholars and Alumni carry with them every day. This is a private screening, so please share with your Scholars and Alumni ONLY.  

We hope you can join us on Thursday, July 23 at 5 pm ET / 4 pm CT / 2 pm PT for this private screening of the film and discussion with Sam Soliman, himself. 

Register Now!

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

Summer Career Series – Join us for our Biggest Career Event of the Year! 

TheDream.US’ Summer Career Series returns on Thursday, July 30 and Friday, July 31 from 3 pm-6 pm ET. This FREE virtual conference is designed to help undocumented students and alumni explore career opportunities, connect with professionals, and learn strategies for building successful careers and businesses.

THURSDAY, JULY 30:

• 3 pm - 4:30 pm ET: Paid Internships and Fellowships for Undocumented Students
• 4:45 pm – 5:45 pm ET: Career Pathways for Undocumented Students

FRIDAY, JULY 31 SCHEDULE: 

• 3 pm - 3:50 pm ET: Just Getting Started – How to Launch Your Own Business 
• 4 pm - 4:50 pm ET: How to Find and Build Your Client Base 
• 5 pm - 6:00 pm ET: Meet & Mingle: Immigrant Entrepreneurs

View the full schedule and session descriptions here. 

Please encourage all Scholars and Alumni to attend this career conference! All undocumented students/alumni at our Partner Colleges, along with PC staff, are also welcome to attend! Registration is required – RSVP today!

TheDream.US Graduate Loan Scholarship Now Open!

TheDream.US Graduate Loan Scholarship Program is now open! 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 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

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