We are Accepting Fall 2026 EVR Submissions Starting
September 2, 2026!

This year's Fall EVR submission period is September 2, 2026 - October 30, 2026.

Updated EVR Instructions  


We ask that you take the following steps at the beginning of each term to relieve the Scholars anxiety around their award arriving later in the term:

• Place a service indicator hold or "Do Not Drop" notation on each Scholar's account
• Email your Scholars to let them know you are managing payments so they do not need to worry about the process, especially New Scholars (sample email)

Here are a few other important reminders:

• Confirmation of receipt of funds is now being required each term. We will send an email after ISTS processes funds to you. We ask that you respond to that outreach within 3 days of receiving the email. This helps us as we close out payments each term.
• Reconciliation of funds should be completed at a minimum each academic year (preferably each term). We have had several Partner Colleges wait years to reconcile scholarship funds and then realize they need to send back refunds to ISTS for Scholars. Waiting this long impacts Scholars and their accounts. In some cases, this has caused Scholars to max out their total award before they should have.

Guidance on TheDream.US $500 Grant disbursement. This is not legal advice, but just our understanding:

• Partner Colleges should come to their own determination regarding the tax treatment of the $500 grant. However, in doing so, please take into account that (i) the federal tax rules that require withholding on certain scholarship and fellowship payments to nonresident aliens do not generally apply to TheDream.US students as they are not generally nonresident aliens, and (ii) the $500 grant is not compensation for teaching, research, employment, or any other services, and is a relatively small one-time educational award.

Questions? Email Elena.Salorio@thedream.us 

Reminder: Renewal Decisions Went Out Last Friday!

All late renewal round applications to Scholars were sent by ISTS on Friday, August 28. All Scholar statuses have been updated in the “PC Scholar Report”, found in the ISTS PC Portal.

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

Questions: AskUs@thedream.us

New DOJ Lawsuits Target Tuition Equity in Four More States

Last week, the Department of Justice filed new lawsuits challenging tuition equity policies in Arizona, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington—bringing the total to 21 such lawsuits filed in the past two years.

TheDream.US led on the development and distribution of a joint statement between TheDream.US, MALDEF, and the Presidents’ Alliance responding to this latest escalation and reaffirming what we know from our Scholars, Alumni, and Partner Colleges: tuition equity expands opportunity, strengthens higher education, and helps Dreamers contribute fully to the states they call home.

• Read our joint response with MALDEF and Presidents’ Alliance
• Read coverage in Inside Higher Ed quoting Gaby Pacheco and the joint statement

TheDream.US PC Directory One-off Update Form

We have wrapped up our Annual PC Directory Updates that were conducted during our Summer Housekeeping. Please note, all changes submitted through the Annual Form have been implemented to our internal directory/mailing list and our website.  

We know staff changes happen all year long and we want to be sure we always have the most up to date contacts for your campus. For any additional changes throughout the semester, please use our simplified PC Directory One-off Update Form. This will allow us to streamline request among our almost 80 Partner Colleges and ensure updates are managed accordingly and timely.  

Questions: Chris.Aviles@thedream.us

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

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