The Claremont University Consortium: Offer 5 scholarships to displaced and refugee students
We call on the colleges of The Claremont University Consortium- Claremont McKenna College, Claremont Graduate University, Harvey Mudd College, Scripps College, Pitzer College, and Pomona College- to provide at least 5 scholarships to displaced and refugee students in upcoming years. We also call on the Claremont Colleges to join the Institute of International Education's Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis and encourage other institutions to join by raising awareness about the plight of displaced and refugee students. We also call on leaders of the international community to take action to protect schools and students in Syria and other parts of the world impacted by war, by whatever means necessary.
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Millions of refugee high school graduates and college students are unable to pursue their dream of a college degree. In Syria in particular, thousands of schools have been destroyed, unfairly depriving students of their right to education. Millions of students are now refugees, with no nearby educational institutions to attend.
While host countries and the UNHCR can provide primary education to refugee children, the young refugee men and women pursuing a higher education face a much more difficult task. With language, logistical, and financial barriers to overcome, these students are unable to continue their education without institutional assistance.
That's why we urge universities to create scholarship opportunities specifically for refugee students to pursue a higher education. The Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis, created by the International Institute of Education (IIE) has brought together 40 universities who commit to offering refugee students and scholars (especially Syrians, who face especially significant challenges) a safe haven to continue their studies abroad. As places of academic and educational opportunity, this is the most practical way for universities to contribute humanitarian aid to the unprecedented and desperate plight of refugees. But we need more universities to join this effort.
The Claremont University Consortium enrolls more than 7,000 students every year, offering many generous scholarships. As students and members of this community of students and scholars, we think that some of the seats should go to refugees who would otherwise have no access to education. We are calling on CMC, CGU, Harvey Mudd, Scripps, Pitzer, and Pomona to join the Syria Consortium organized by the IIE to offer scholarship opportunities for refugee students. We hope that the Claremont University Consortium can be a example to universities around the world by offering these refugee students a second chance at getting their education.
