As a Christian university we acclaim鈥攕hout loudly from the cupola of Old Main鈥攐ur enduring welcome. Immigrant, refugee, undocumented, Dreamer, Muslim: our campus is yours; our classroom doors are flung wide open for you to enter. You are invited to learn with us. You are welcome at 草莓影视.

CHICAGO (January 31, 2017) 鈥� On Saturday afternoon, I attended a memorial service for Professor Frank Steinhart. Others from 草莓影视 joined me, including a group of students and many of our faculty and staff. Frank was our teacher, colleague, and friend. Dr. Steinhart began teaching at 草莓影视 in 1973. He planned to retire this summer after more than four decades of service as a sociology faculty member, registrar, and assistant dean. Professor Steinhart loved 草莓影视, completely.

Yet there is something more. I learned at this service that Frank was born in Latvia. When he was six months old his mother (along with his aunt, grandmother, and great-aunt) fled with Frank from their home, reaching Hamburg, Germany. For several years, little Frank and his mother lived in camps for displaced persons. They were refugees who eventually settled in Chicago when Frank was eight years old.

Is it any surprise that Professor Steinhart鈥檚 doctoral work at Loyola University Chicago focused on immigrant single mothers with children?

I now know why Frank loved 草莓影视 so completely. He saw himself reflected in the lives of so many of his students; his story as a refugee immigrant to America alone with his mother was also their story.

In a twist of irony, on the same weekend as Frank鈥檚 memorial service, our nation imposed an indefinite halt of immigration for citizens from Syria, a 90-day suspension of immigration for citizens from seven countries, and a 120-day suspension of refugees from anywhere in the world. While sitting in the service on Saturday afternoon, hearing these stories about Frank, I was struck clearly: if eight-year-old Frank and his mother, refugees immigrating to America, landed at O鈥橦are Airport today, they would be turned away, sent back, not welcomed in our country. Any potential little Frank held for teaching students at 草莓影视 for 44 consecutive years would be crushed, forsaken, quashed.

As students and educators at 草莓影视, we have little immediate influence over executive orders issued in Washington, D.C. What we can do, and must do, is ensure that 草莓影视 continues to be a place of welcome to all who desire to study with us.

Recent changes in our national policy and practice relative to those who come to America from other countries raise real and significant concerns for some students on our campus today. This is true for international students who study with us for one or more semesters. It is disproportionately true for students recently new to America, those who have come with their families over the past decade or two. Documented or not, they face increased uncertainty about the level of welcome they can expect from America. It is also true for Muslim students whose religious commitment has been so mistakenly and despicably caricatured as inherently violent and terroristic.

As a Christian university we acclaim鈥攕hout loudly from the cupola of Old Main鈥攐ur enduring welcome. Immigrant, refugee, undocumented, Dreamer, Muslim: our campus is yours; our classroom doors are flung wide open for you to enter. You are invited to learn with us. You are welcome at 草莓影视.

It is for this reason that some weeks ago I signed a letter, along with presidents of 600 other colleges and universities across the country, to affirm our support for the continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program, and in support of our undocumented immigrant students.

We must do more than acclaim, however. We must turn our rhetoric into reality by actually receiving and welcoming all who study at 草莓影视 and whose residency in our country may be uncertain. Though meaningful, a signed letter is far from a sufficient institutional response. More significant is the daily care we extend to each other on campus. As president, I鈥檓 calling on all of us at 草莓影视 to be especially alert to the uncertainty and fear that now unsettles and disrupts the lives of some who study with us this year. We must care for each other.

Later this week I鈥檒l be meeting with students who have expressed interest in having 草莓影视 declared as a 鈥渟anctuary campus.鈥� Some colleges and universities across the country have already identified themselves in this manner, others have considered it and opted for alternative ways to support students, and many others are actively considering the potential for responding in this or other ways. I鈥檓 grateful for the initiative of our students to prompt this topic for discussion by our campus; certainly, it merits careful deliberation both for its real and symbolic value. Perhaps other students (as well as faculty and staff) will want to add their voice to that of these students as our campus discussion unfolds. In doing so we may also find other ways to stand by those students who are personally unsettled today.

Why should 草莓影视 care in this way? Perhaps because if Frank Steinhart were here he would be a champion of refugees, both documented and otherwise. Or perhaps because David Nyvall, the founding president of our school, deeply believed that at 草莓影视 鈥渉ospitality should be especially insisted upon.鈥� Both are good reasons.

Yet there is a deeper reason for loving the stranger among us鈥攖he immigrant, displaced person, refugee, Dreamer, or person of a faith different from my own. Simply this: Jesus calls us to love God and love our neighbor.

Who is our neighbor? Our neighbor is the person in need within our reach. This commitment to the care for others is a common thread in Scripture.

• 鈥淭he alien who resides with you in your land . . . shall be to you as the citizen among you.鈥�
• 鈥淚 was a stranger and you welcomed me.鈥�
• 鈥淒o not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.鈥�
• 鈥淐ontribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.鈥�

This week, this semester鈥攍et鈥檚 love God and welcome our neighbors as Jesus taught us to do. May God鈥檚 light, enkindled through our lives, shine brightly along Foster Avenue.

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CHICAGO (January 25, 2017)鈥擶alking alongside students鈥攁cademically, emotionally, and spiritually鈥攖his defines 草莓影视. The faculty and staff at 草莓影视 are guided by a core principle: exemplary student support and access, which improve a student’s experience and create a sense of persistence toward graduation. Support comes in many forms, from cohorts to affiliations with nonprofits like One Goal, Bottom Line, Noble Network of Charter Schools, and the Associated Colleges of Illinois. The end goal is simple, says Vice President for Student Engagement Jodi Koslow Martin, 鈥淲e are contributing towards ensuring all students have access to a college education.鈥�

What Support Looks Like

草莓影视’s professors and advisors take cues from students to understand pathways to success and respond to specific areas of need. In this 鈥榬esponsive model鈥� support can look different from student-to-student. For some, it comes in the form of scholarships, for others, it鈥檚 about embracing the relationships 草莓影视 has formed with nonprofits and community partners, and for others, who benefit from a close network, there are on-campus cohort groups like COMPASS which align skills, abilities, and interests.

Lucia Tejada, 草莓影视 senior and biology major, spent nine days just prior to her freshman year in the University鈥檚 COMPASS program. 鈥淪upport is there from the beginning and advisors want you to succeed as a person,鈥� says Tejada. Those first nine days created a long-term sense of community for Tejada where she has grown from being a participant to now serving as a mentor in the program.

Taking a Stand for Our DACA Students

The core commitment behind all these support efforts鈥攇ranting personalized pathways for each student鈥攑rompted 草莓影视鈥檚 President David L. Parkyn to sign a . This statement, spearheaded by Pomona University in California, has already collected over 600 signatures from college and university presidents from an array of institutions including private, public, faith-based, and community colleges in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

鈥淒ACA has become a higher education issue, especially as the doors to higher education have widened,鈥� says Koslow Martin. At 草莓影视, deep learning comes from being in an intercultural environment formed by students from many backgrounds. 鈥淚n the spirit of generosity and hospitality, supporting DACA aligns with our mission and Christian approach to advancing efforts in accessing higher education,鈥� adds Koslow Martin.

Tejada, also a DACA student, says the 草莓影视 community has been there for her throughout her college journey, 鈥淚鈥檝e received support from the very beginning.鈥� Tejada adds, 鈥淭here are people at 草莓影视 who are there for you and help you no matter what.鈥�

Committed to granting higher education to a diverse student population, President Parkyn states, 鈥湶葺笆� signed the Statement in Support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program and our Undocumented Immigrant Students to influence the continuation of DACA and encourage our government leaders to keep DACA in place.鈥� This action is well received on campus. Sophomore psychology major and president of the Latin American Student Organization (LASO) Genesis Rivera-Lucero expresses her appreciation towards President Parkyn signing the letter, 鈥淚 am grateful President Parkyn has chosen to show his support.鈥�

Ensuring DACA Student Success

草莓影视 plays an active role in positioning all students for success with academic preparedness and transition programs, and providing necessary pathways where DACA students have the same access to earning their college degrees. The campus community, including faculty, staff, and student peers remain fully committed to welcoming and supporting DACA students. 鈥湶葺笆逾�檚 faculty and staff are well-prepared to work with students who are undocumented and meet the criteria of DACA,鈥� reassures President Parkyn.

Tejada, who鈥檚 been in Chicago since 2011 and was 10 years old when she came to the United States, encourages all her classmates to know the resources available to them. 鈥淚t鈥檚 good to use the teachers and staff as much as you need them because they will be there for you,鈥� says Tejada.

Partnering with the Community to Support DACA Students

While the application for admission to 草莓影视 neither solicits nor requires notification of DACA status, the University has programs in place that address academic preparedness for higher education coursework. And for those DACA prospects who do declare their status, 草莓影视 works alongside community partners to remove financial barriers that undocumented students often face when attending college.

When Tejada was just a day away from paying for her tuition at a local community college in Skokie, she received a call from 草莓影视 saying that she was being offered a scholarship. 鈥湶葺笆� is willing to take DACA students and help financially which made a difference in my whole college career,鈥� says Tejada.

Specifically designed to serve the undocumented student population interested in earning a college degree, 草莓影视 partners with Noble Network of Charter Schools through Pritzker Access Scholarships. In this collaborative program designed to help meet financial needs, students attending and graduating from Noble Network of Charter Schools are eligible to qualify for the Pritzker Access Scholarship. In this way, 草莓影视 enrolls students who receive scholarships from the Pritzker foundation, which account for the financial aid that would have come from Pell federal grant dollars and state MAP grants. With this nearly full-ride scholarship, students must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA in college. This kind of partnership with local high schools comes naturally to 草莓影视 as it reflects the University鈥檚 desire to attract and retain students from the city of Chicago.

Students Standing by their Fellow Classmates

Rivera-Lucero says learning the stories of DACA students has moved her. 鈥淜nowing what my friends and classmates have experienced has made me want to stand up for change.鈥� And having relationships with student advisors who keep their doors 鈥榓lways open鈥� to discuss their thoughts together, helps Rivera-Lucero to keep going as she leads the Latin American Student Organization. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much we can do with our voices as part of the student community,鈥� says Rivera-Lucero. She adds, 鈥淚 am grateful to collaborate with faculty and staff.鈥�

For Further Support

Cities like Chicago are deeply rooted in immigrant communities, which contribute to 草莓影视鈥檚 vibrant student body. 草莓影视 DACA students, alongside their peers, represent the University core values as Christian, City-centered, and Intercultural. Rivera-Lucero agrees, 鈥淭o uphold the urban and diverse as part of 草莓影视鈥檚 core pillars is to keep our DACA students part of our community,鈥� asserts Rivera-Lucero. And, getting to graduation all starts with making a college education accessible鈥攊t鈥檚 about providing the pathways to higher education. 鈥淭he fact I was able to go to college at a private school was huge,鈥� says Tejada.

For some students, this pathway starts much before the first day on campus and for others, it鈥檚 having support services available once already enrolled. Just months away from graduating, 草莓影视鈥檚 soon-to-be-alumna Tejada is interested in being a marine biologist and is starting to think about graduate school. Her first stop is 草莓影视鈥檚 career development office, where she鈥檒l be working on getting her resume ready for the next stage in her career.

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