Participating colleges and universities are committed to offering two annual, renewable scholarships, each covering a minimum of 50% tuition, to selected international undergraduates who share the mission of spreading the #YouAreWelcomeHere message. Applicants can choose between answering a short essay question or presenting a multimedia project outlining their ideas for applying leadership skills on their future campuses.
Campaign Objectives:
- Reinforce the #YouAreWelcomeHere message globally.
- Establish a globally recognized scholarship program with consistent standards at participating U.S. colleges and universities.
- Enhance access to U.S. higher education for talented international students.
- Cultivate future world leaders who promote intercultural understanding.
- Create a lasting legacy of welcoming international students to U.S. institutions.
Student Applicant Criteria:
- First-year international applicant in any field of study/major at a participating college or university.
- International applicant without U.S. citizenship or permanent residency.
- Demonstrated interest and initiative in promoting intercultural learning and exchange.
- Adherence to admission criteria and deadlines at each college or university.
- Completion of the YAWH scholarship application and submission of a 500-1000 word essay or a two-to-five minute video, answering the prompt: “Tell us about your leadership skills in your school or community, and how you plan to continue applying your leadership skills at the U.S. institution you are applying to.”
Timeline:
- January 1, 2024: Colleges and universities confirm participation in the academic year 2024-2025 scholarship campaign with NAFSA by submitting the sign-up form.
- Spring or Summer 2024: Institution deadlines for students to complete a #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship application for each selected institution, including an essay or multimedia submission.
- August 1, 2024: Colleges and universities notify NAFSA of their institution’s scholarship recipients.
Getting Started:
College and university representatives can start by reviewing the terms of the scholarship program:
- Commit to two #YouAreWelcomeHere freshman scholarships for Fall 2024.
- Fund the scholarships with institutional money.
- Ensure scholarships are additive, covering at least 50% of published annual (out-of-state) tuition costs, excluding fees.
- Make scholarships renewable for the length of the degree program, provided students make satisfactory academic progress.
- Select students meeting the criteria outlined in the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program.
- Share relevant data with NAFSA in accordance with GDPR and other applicable laws.
- Adhere to the scholarship application and promotion timeline.
- Promote the #YouAreWelcomeHere campaign and scholarship awardees using the campaign hashtag.
- Accept, process, and select completed applications for the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship.
- Create a #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship page on the institution’s website and link back to the YAWH website.
This pledge is valid for one academic year, with the option to renew annually for ongoing participation.
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE PROGRAM
Starting from Fall 2024, the institutions listed below have pledged to provide two #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarships. For specific information about a particular institution’s scholarship, kindly reach out directly to the institution. Please note that this list is subject to change without prior notice
Adelphi University (Garden City, New York)
Albion College (Albion, Michigan)
Ball State University (Muncie, Indiana)
California State University San Marcos (San Marcos, California)
Cedar Crest College (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
Clarkson University (Potsdam, New York)
Concordia College* (Moorhead, Minnesota)
Furman University (Greenville, South Carolina)
George Mason University (Fairfax, Virginia)
The George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)
Hawaii Pacific University (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Illinois College (Jacksonville, Illinois)
Kirkwood Community College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
La Roche University (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Lebanon Valley College (Annville, Pennsylvania)
Lock Haven University (Lock Haven, Pennsylvania)
Loras College (Dubuque, Iowa)
Miami University (Oxford, Ohio)
Michigan State University (East Lansing, Michigan)
National Louis University (Chicago, Illinois)
Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virginia)
Rochester Institute of Technology (Rochester, New York)
Rutgers University-Camden (Camden, New Jersey)
Salve Regina University (Newport, Rhode Island)
St. Catherine University (St. Paul, Minnesota)
St. Francis College (Brooklyn Heights, New York)
St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, New York)
State University of New York at New Paltz (New Paltz, New York)
Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, New York)
Temple University* (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Towson University (Towson, Maryland)
University of Idaho (Moscow, Idaho)
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (Baltimore, Maryland)
University of Mount Union (Alliance, Ohio)
University of Saint Joseph (West Hartford, Connecticut)
University of Southern Indiana (Evansville, Indiana)
University of Wisconsin – Stout (Menomonie, Wisconsin)
University of Wisconsin – Superior (Superior, Wisconsin)
Valparaiso University (Valparaiso, Indiana)
Wayne State University (Detroit, Michigan)
Western New England University* (Springfield, Massachusetts)
West Virginia University (Morgantown, West Virginia)
Widener University (Chester, Pennsylvania)
Wilkes University (Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania)
Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio)