Advancing Immigrant Students' Access to Higher Education

Minnesota must better serve its immigrant students – it is both a moral and an economic imperative.

The job openings being created by college graduates leaving the workforce as the baby boomers retire and the new jobs that are being created are far outpacing the number of qualified workers entering the workforce each year. At the same time, the number of students graduating from high school is in decline. However, more students of color will be graduating from high school, largely children from immigrant families.

Minnesota needs more immigrant students to complete some form of higher education.

Between 2006 and 2008, study committees of Citizens League members worked with students, families, teachers and school administrators, business people, and others to study this issue.

We identified four key policy areas to improve immigrant students’ access to higher education – information, cost, culture, and language preparation – and recommendations to address each.

The Citizens League is now working with other partners to advance these recommendations. If you're interested in getting involved or for more information, contact Annie Levenson-Falk at alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org.

Photo courtesy of Admission Possible.