Refugee Pathways in U.S. Higher Education: Examining Refugee Access in the National Capital Area

• In Event: Examining International Higher Education Contexts and International Student Populations

Abstract

As increasing numbers of individuals face displacement, the U.S. resettlement regime must contend with the shifting importance of higher education. At the same time, higher education institutions must consider the pathways for displaced learners with a host of lived experiences. Drawing on data collected from 10 focus groups with 82 displaced individuals, this community-engaged research collaboration with a national capital area resettlement agency works to consider the (in)equities facing displaced learners accessing higher education. The findings, with implications for scholars, policy-makers, and practitioners, elucidate the barriers related to financial constraints, information access, and the degree verification process – pointing to how existing structures, even those intended to address equity, often neglect displaced learners or essentialize their experiences alongside other immigrant populations.

Authors

• Ishara Casellas Connors, Texas A&M University

• Lisa Unangst, SUNY - Empire State University

• Kerri Evans, University of Maryland - Baltimore County