News News Release

Concordia Joins Group Launching International Scholarship Program

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
MATTHEW BEATTY, director, International Admission
(218) 299-4712
AMY KELLY, College Communications and Media Relations director
(218) 299-3642

CONCORDIA JOINS GROUP LAUNCHING INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., together with Temple University, leader of the widespread #YouAreWelcomeHere social media campaign to encourage international students to study in the United States, and seven other U.S. college and university partners, is launching a national scholarship program for incoming international students for fall 2019.

This new scholarship will provide financial support for international students who are committed to furthering the #YouAreWelcomeHere message through intercultural exchange that bridges divides at their future campuses and beyond. Participating colleges and universities will offer an annual, renewable scholarship for a select number of students that covers a minimum of 50 percent of recipients’ tuition. Each institution will determine the exact number of #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship recipients.

“The #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign has opened new bridges of goodwill between U.S. higher education and students worldwide,” said Jessica Sandberg, Temple University’s director of international admissions and originator of the campaign. “This scholarship is our way of meeting students halfway across that bridge. It advances the campaign through meaningful action, adding concrete support for international students to our already well-received message and providing those students with a way to expand the conversation.”

Sandberg, as well as Concordia’s director of international admission, Dr. Matthew Beatty, will present more details of this new initiative to their international education colleagues at the annual NAFSA: Association of International Educators conference in Philadelphia at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 29.

“Concordia College is proud to join in launching the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship, advancing our college’s commitment to international students and to campuswide internationalization,” said William Craft, president of Concordia College.

The other partners include Eastern Michigan University, James Madison University (Virginia), Purdue University Northwest (Indiana), Seattle University (Washington), Shoreline Community College (Washington), Western New England University (Massachusetts) and the University of Minnesota Twin Cities.

“Especially in the wake of the anti-immigrant rhetoric coming from our policy leaders, it’s vital that U.S. institutions find ways to make international students and scholars feel welcome and valued on our campuses and in our communities,” said Esther D. Brimmer, executive director and CEO of NAFSA: Association of International Educators. “We need more programs like this one that encourage international students to choose the United States as their study destination. Investing in international education will ensure our nation remains globally competitive and engaged, and I am heartened to see the U.S. higher education community take a proactive stance in this effort.”

About the #YouAreWelcomeHere Campaign

Following expressions of apprehension by some international students about studying in the U.S., in November 2016, Temple University expanded the #YouAreWelcomeHere hashtag into an international campaign to ensure that international students at U.S. universities and colleges feel welcome in the United States. Since then, more than 350 colleges and universities, 60 international education companies and organizations, and 20 high schools have joined. In recognition of its leadership efforts, the campaign has received several national awards. For more information, visit youarewelcomehereusa.org.

 

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