EMU Today

YPSILANTI - Eastern Michigan University, one of nine initial founding colleges and universities across the country to launch the #YouAreWelcomeHere international student scholarship, has now been joined by nearly 50 additional colleges and universities in participating in the program. 

Temple University leads the national initiative, which began in May 2018 on the heels of a widespread social media campaign. To date, the #YouAreWelcomeHere program has received commitments from institutions coast to coast, from Maine to Hawaii, and from community colleges to large, public universities. 

“Eastern Michigan University is proud to be one of the initial partners in the #YouAreWelcomeHere national scholarship program,” said James Smith, president, Eastern Michigan University. “Reflecting our strong support of the program, and our overall leadership in the #YouAreWelcomeHere international student recruitment effort, we expanded our program with the June 2018 launch of the TRUEMU Global Rate Tuition Plan, providing in-state tuition pricing to all new incoming undergraduate international students. 

“Eastern’s leadership in joining with Temple and other partners is consistent with the our overall efforts related to the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign, evidenced by the more than 100 banners featuring international students across campus, and a series of videos and events designed to make international students feel welcome and supported on our campus and the greater community.” 

Beginning in fall 2019, each of the 57 participating colleges and universities will offer two annual, renewable scholarships that will cover a minimum of 50 percent of recipients’ tuition. These scholarships support incoming international students who are committed to furthering the #YouAreWelcomeHere message through intercultural exchange that bridges divides at their future campuses and beyond.

“As enrollment of international students at universities across the U.S. continues to decline, it is more important than ever for higher education institutions to identify new methods to recruit international students who desire an American college education,” said Smith. 

Further information about In addition to the participating colleges and universities, the campaign has earned support from key international education organizations, including NAFSA: Association of International Educators and the Institute of International Education (IIE).

“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. “Refugee students flee conflict zones and cross intercultural divides to continue their higher education. As a higher education community, it is our responsibility to support such great efforts and welcome refugees to safe-haven universities across the United States.”

To qualify, international applicants must hold citizenship in a country outside the U.S. and also not possess U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. Interested students must apply for admission to one of the 57 participating universities or colleges, before completing a #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship applicationto be submitted directly to the university or college of choice. The application deadline for the fall 2019 scholarships is Dec. 15, 2018, with awardees receiving notification by May 2019.

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 U.S. Since then, more than 350 colleges and universities, 70 international education companies and organizations, and 20 high schools have joined. Institutions can follow the campaign on the website that Temple maintains, youarewelcomehere.org, which includes a toolkit for promoting the campaign. 

Participating Colleges and Universities
The following colleges and universities have made a commitment to the Fall 2019 scholarship:

1.    Adelphi University (Garden City, New York)

2.    Albion College (Albion, Michigan)

3.    Augsburg University (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

4.    Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana)

5.    Butte Community College (Oroville, California)

6.    California State University San Marcos (San Marcos, California)

7.    Cedar Crest College (Allentown, Pennsylvania)

8.    Clarkson University (Potsdam, New York)

9.    Concordia College* (Bronxville, New York)

10.  Eastern Michigan University* (Ypsilanti, Michigan)

11.  Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina)

12.  George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia)

13.  Hawaii Pacific University (Honolulu, Hawaii)

14.  Hollins University (Roanoke, Virginia)

15.  Illinois College (Jacksonville, Illinois)

16.  Illinois Wesleyan University (Bloomington, Illinois)

17.  James Madison University* (Harrisonburg, Virginia)

18.  Johnson & Wales University (Providence, Rhode Island)

19.  Kent State University (Kent, Ohio)

20.  La Roche College (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)

21.  Lebanon Valley College (Annville, Pennsylvania)

22.  Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa)

23.  Marian University (Fond du Lac, Wisconsin)

24.  Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)

25.  Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan)

26.  Murray State University (Murray, Kentucky)

27.  North Central College (Naperville, Illinois)

28.  Northeastern University (Boston, Massachusetts)

29.  Ohio University (Athens, Ohio)

30.  Pacific Northwest College of Art (Portland, Oregon)

31.  Purdue University Northwest* (Hammond and Westville, Indiana)

32.  Rutgers University-Camden (Camden, New Jersey)

33.  Saint Leo University (St. Leo, Florida)

34.  Saint Michael's College (Colchester, Vermont)

35.  Salve Regina University (Newport, Rhode Island)

36.  Seattle University* (Seattle, Washington)

37.  Shoreline Community College* (Shoreline, Washington)

38.  St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, New York)

39.  State University of New York at New Paltz (New Paltz, New York)

40.  Temple University* (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

41.  The College of Saint Rose (Albany, New York)

42.  The George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)

43.  Towson University (Towson, Maryland)

44.  Transylvania University (Lexington, Kentucky)

45.  University of Cincinnati College of Law (Cincinnati, Ohio)

46.  University of Dayton (Dayton, Ohio)

47.  University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, Maryland)

48.  University of Minnesota -Twin Cities* (Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota)

49.  University of Saint Joseph (West Hartford, Connecticut)

50.  University of South Alabama (Mobile, Alabama)

51.  University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, Indiana)

52.  University of St. Thomas (St. Paul, Minnesota)

53.  University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Stevens Point, Wisconsin)

54.  Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Indiana)

55.  Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan)

56.  Western New England University* (Springfield, Massachusetts)

57.  Widener University​ (Chester, Pennsylvania)

*Denotes the nine universities that made the original #YouAreWelcomeHere commitment 

CONTACT:
Geoff Larcom
Eastern Michigan University
glarcom@emich.edu
734-487-6895
or
Christopher A. Vito
Temple University
cvito@temple.edu
215-204-6557

About Eastern Michigan University
Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves 20,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.