SUNY New Paltz is one of 57 colleges and universities nationwide that has joined the #YouAreWelcomeHere national scholarship program by pledging to create scholarships for international students to study in the U.S.
Beginning in fall 2019, New Paltz will join the other participating colleges and universities in offering two annual, renewable scholarships that will cover 50 percent of recipients’ tuition. These #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarships are designed to support incoming international students and promote intercultural exchange that bridges divides.
The College will offer two scholarships each year from fall 2019 to fall 2022, resulting in a total of eight international students receiving tuition support over the course of a four year commitment.
“International students play a crucial role in creating academic and cultural growth in our programs, bringing experiences from their home countries that often change the perceptions of those they interact with while they’re here,” said Bruce Sillner, dean of the Center for International Programs at SUNY New Paltz. “We are truly excited to be able to offer this scholarship opportunity as a way to show how much we value their contributions to our campus and community.”
The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship initiative began at Temple University in May 2018, and in less than a year it has garnered commitments from 57 institutions across the U.S., including community colleges, private institutions and large, public universities.
The scholarship builds on a viral hashtag campaign that began in November 2016, with a mission of ensuring that international students feel welcome and comfortable studying at U.S. colleges and universities. SUNY New Paltz is one of 350 colleges and universities that have participated in the campaign.
#YouAreWelcomeHere has also earned support from more than 70 international education organizations and businesses, including NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Institute of International Education (IIE), as well as increased attention from media such as The Chronicle of Higher Education and The PIE Higher Education News.
“The #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship meets an essential challenge in the effort to support international and refugee students, foster intercultural understanding and develop future leaders,” said Allan E. Goodman, president of the IIE.
To qualify, international applicants must hold citizenship in a country outside the U.S. and also not possess U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, and they must meet or exceed academic admission requirements.
Interested students must apply to SUNY New Paltz before completing a #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship application, which must then be submitted via email to international@newpaltz.edu.
Visit the Center for International Programs online for more information.
Use this link to learn more about the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship.
