American University of Afghanistan (AUAf) students study in the library prior to class.
U.S. Air Force photo by TSgt Laura K. Smith, ISAF Public Affairs
supporting displaced and refugee students on campus
The Bard Welcome Corps is the private sponsor group responsible for the welfare and resettlement assistance for students admitted to Bard through the U.S. Department of State's Welcome Corps on Campus program in addition to students from Afghanistan, Ukraine, Russia, Eurasia, Myanmar, Gaza who have come to Bard through special scholarship programs.
This initiative build upon the work the College has done to find safe havens for displaced Afghan students and graduates. The College has met its pledge to enroll as many as 100 students in Annandale, as well as threatened scholars. The American University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan, a Bard partner, has offered scholarships through the Open Society University Network (OSUN) to up to 120 graduates in addition to its 120 Afghan undergraduates, and a home to another 100 or more students from the American University of Afghanistan. Several other OSUN partners have stepped forward and offered refuge to scholars through OSUN’s Threatened Scholars program.
A list of additional resources can be found here. Read a recently published report "Afghan Newcomers Bring Critical Value to U.S. Economy and Society," here.
Supporting Displaced and Undocumented Students
Bard College is currently supporting more displaced students per capita than any other college or university in the United States. The Sanctuary Fund helps displaced and undocumented students by providing scholarships, room, board, and assistance with books, medical, legal, and other pressing needs; it is designed to continue Bard’s long history of supporting displaced and undocumented students and faculty who for generations have found sanctuary at Bard.
There are currently 120 young men and women enrolled at the College who are considered “displaced students,” meaning they have been forced to flee their countries of origin, leaving behind families, friends, homes, studies, and possessions. Students range in age from 17–31, and most are pursuing undergraduate degrees. 75 are from Afghanistan, 25 are from Ukraine, and another 20 are Eurasians (mainly Russian dissidents). Bard has welcomed them with full scholarships, including tuition, room, and board. While most of the Afghan students will remain in the United States and receive asylum, many of the others are hoping to return home, if ever possible. Bard has committed institutional resources to cover these costs as students move toward graduation, yet much help is needed to fund this effort.
Operation Allies Welcome Coordinator Jack Markell, Governor Kathy Hochul, President Leon Botstein, and Bard student Jalil Sadat spoke at a press conference following the White House roundtable at Bard College. During the press conference, Governor Hochul announced an additional $2 million in state funding to help Afghan evacuees resettle in New York State.
Bard College Hosts White House Roundtable on Afghan Resettlement
On Tuesday, December 7, the White House convened a roundtable discussion at Bard College on the resettlement of Afghan refugee students. The event was led by Jack Markell, White House coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome, the U.S. government effort to support and resettle vulnerable Afghans. New York Governor Kathy Hochul held a press conference following the roundtable, during which she, Markell, Bard College President Leon Botstein, and Bard student and Afghan refugee Jalil Sadat spoke. Sadat described his escape from Kabul in August and transition to life at Bard. President Botstein outlined Bard’s efforts to evacuate and resettle Afghan students and scholars. To date, Bard has helped evacuate 177 students from Kabul, most of whom are now enrolled at Bard's dual-degree partner, the American University of Central Asia in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Bard College has committed to admitting at least 100 Afghan refugees at its campuses in New York, Massachusetts, and Berlin. Several students from Afghanistan have enrolled at Bard this semester, and the College expects another 30 to begin in January.
A LETTER TO THE BARD COLLEGE COMMUNITY
January 25, 2022
The Afghan Student Transition Team welcomed 31 Afghan students to the Annandale campus on January 11. They joined 14 transfer students for the first January term Language and Thinking program. Please join us in welcoming all of our new students to campus. Bard College Berlin and Simon’s Rock will be welcoming 15 Afghan students in the spring term, bringing the network total of Afghan students to nearly 400, with the largest contingent at the American University of Central Asia (AUCA). The admission application for Annandale, Berlin, and Simon’s Rock is now open to fall 2022 applicants in anticipation of welcoming more Afghan transfer students, particularly from the American University of Afghanistan.
Below you will find a comprehensive overview of the resources in place to provide support to our Afghan students, as well as points of contact for specific areas of response or concern.
A LETTER TO THE BARD COLLEGE COMMUNITY
Welcome to New Colleagues The American University of Afghanistan’s Dean of Students, Dr. Colman Joyce, has joined the Annandale team this semester. Colm worked at the American University of Central Asia in September to support the over 170 students (more than 100 from AUAF) who were evacuated in the fall. Colm’s understanding of Afghan culture, the AUAF curriculum, and life in Kabul will inform and enrich our efforts on behalf of these new Bardians.
Abigail Swartvagher ‘20 has joined the team as a Student Support Fellow responsible for day-to-day assistance to students as they transition to life on campus and in the Hudson Valley. Abbie recently spent a day at the Albany office of the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) where she met resettlement caseworkers and shadowed staff training. Abbie will be working closely with Meylin Colindres, the Peer Counselor dedicated to Afghan students.
Academic Support Rachel Cavell, IWT Faculty Associate and OSUN Tutor Coordinator, is working as Program Manager for the January Language & Thinking Program for transfer students and will remain a point of contact for connecting students to academic support throughout the semester. Every student has had academic advising with David Shein, Dean of Studies, and faculty advisors from the divisions. David is working closely with AUAF colleagues and the Office of the Registrar on credit transfer and course equivalencies.
This spring, OSUN's CEU-based Open Learning Initiative, or OLIve, and OSUN’s Working Group on Education for Refugees, IDPs, and Host Community Members are organizing a workshop series for all OSUN educators that examines the practices and pedagogies developed for teaching refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced students, asking how such tools can help educators themselves be better teachers and administrators in general. Information is available here, scroll to bottom of page for upcoming workshop dates.
Health and Counseling During orientation the local Medicaid health care navigator visited campus to enroll all eligible students in a NYS Medicaid program that is accepted by a local provider’s office. Students here on F1 visas are covered by the Bard student health plan. In addition to the services offered by the College’s counseling staff, the New School’s Global Mental Health Lab will train members of the student support staff to use specific tools developed for adults impaired by distress in communities who are exposed to adversity. New York University’s Postdoctoral Program in Psychotherapy & Psychoanalysis has offered pro bono group counseling support, building upon their existing partnership with the American University of Afghanistan.
Legal Support Orientation will include three, in-person, sessions with all our incoming Afghan students. The introductory session let the students know that Bard’s hope is to get volunteer attorneys to work with each student who would like to change their immigration status going forward. The next two sessions will include a five-part series of videos that will give an overview of the US immigration system and a class with seasoned immigration attorneys on how to write a personal narrative for an asylum claim. Danielle Riou, Jacqueline Baillargeon, and Tamara Stafford have created the Legal Services Hub to introduce students to the complicated United States Immigration terrain and to connect pro bono attorneys prepared to represent students who want to find durable pathways to staying in the US. Each student’s case is unique and requires an expert and deep understanding of their particular circumstances. Unfortunately, given the careful and ongoing coordination this kind of support requires and our limited resources, the College cannot provide assistance with reunification or resettlement of our students’ families. It is important that anyone in the community who is asked about these services, or who can provide attorney referrals, redirect students or reach out to [email protected].
Financial Support and Fundraising Tuition and core costs for these students (room, board, and fees) is covered for these students. The College is doing its best to meet additional student needs, and we know individual requests will reach many of you. Please feel free to refer students seeking additional aid to Jen Murray or Tamara Stafford. Those here on a student visa may work on campus, students here with Humanitarian Parole are authorized to work on or off campus. We continue to be amazed at the generous support the Bard community has provided. The Bard parent network has provided new bedding sets and other essential dorm items, and every student received a one-time stipend for personal essentials. A local community group has raised funds toward the cost of textbooks and supplies, and we're working on a laptop loan program. At this time we have sufficient donations of material items. Students who do not have family in the United States will have the option to remain on campus or visit with a host family during school breaks. Please continue to spread the word about the Bard Afghan Student Fund giving page and be in touch with Sasha Boak-Kelly regarding individuals or foundations with an interest in supporting the fund.
Community Collaborations The College has partnered with USCRI in Albany to connect students to the large Afghan community that lives in the region. Additionally, a number of local organizations including the Albany County Sheriff’s Office, Ascienzo Foundation, Bard Family Network, Mountaintop Progressives, and the Bard LLI, have donated prayer rugs, volunteered mentors, organized care packages, and are planning welcome events to help students connect with the broader community. The nationwide Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration and its partners in the Initiative on U.S. Education Pathways for Refugee Students have created policy recommendations for the establishment of a refugee student pathway to US higher education through a college/university refugee sponsorship program, which involves providing refugee students expanded pathways to study, resettle, and obtain legal permanent residence in the U.S. Interested in getting involved in advocating for this change in policy? Advocate for change and connect with Erin Cannan or Danielle Riou.
We know many students will have questions and concerns that they will share with the faculty and staff with whom they are closest. Please reach out to us at [email protected] with any questions.
Sincerely, Jackie Baillargeon, Senior Program Manager, OSUN Threatened Scholar Initiative Sasha Boak-Kelly, Senior Director of Development Erin Cannan, Vice President for Civic Engagement Lauren Cooke, Program Assistant, IILE Sarah deVeer, Outreach Coordinator, CCE Bonnie T. Goad, Associate Director, CCE Colm Joyce, Dean of Students, AUAF Erica Kaufman, Director, Bard College Institute for Writing & Thinking Sue Lyon, Assistant Provost, Bard College at Simon’s Rock Paul Marienthal, Dean for Civic Action Jennifer Murray, Dean of International Studies Bethany Nohlgren, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Darnell Pierce, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of the First Year Experience Andrea Provan, Nurse Practitioner, Bard Health Services Danielle Riou, Associate Director, Human Rights Project Mackie Siebens, Director of Admission Tamara Stafford, Director of International Services Micki Strawinski, Administrative Assistant, TLS Abbie Swartvagher, Student Support Fellow Joshua Tyler, Assistant Director of Admission John Weinstein, Provost, Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Community Update Regarding Afghanistan (November 2, 2021)
As you know, the Afghan Student Transition Team has been preparing for the arrival of Afghan students to the Annandale campus over the course of the past few months. We are thrilled to be welcoming four new students this coming Sunday, November 7. Over 20 students have been accepted to arrive in January with still more applications being reviewed. Preparing a proper welcome has been the job of our team. Here are just a few updates on those preparations.
Orientation Student care packages are being prepared and the student services team is putting together a mini-orientation of workshops, campus tours, events and community meals. The Institute for Writing and Thinking has organized academic advisors (Derek Furr and Phil Pardi) to create programming to help students adjust to academic life at Bard and faculty have volunteered to open their courses as a bridge program to help finish out the term. We want to thank everyone who has raised their hand to help and welcome additional offers of support.
Community Collaborations The College has identified a number of community partners including the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants office in Albany where we will be working on helping connect students to legal and financial benefits. Each student’s circumstance is unique; connecting with the resettlement network is critical as we help students navigate through complicated legal systems. As a founding partner of the Consortium on Forced Migration, Displacement and Education, created by Bard, Vassar, Sarah Lawrence, and Bennington Colleges, we are working on securing resources and support for colleges who are accepting Afghan students. Bard has also been a very engaged member of the nationwide Presidents’ Alliance on Higher Education and Immigration, and they’ve been a valuable resource for interpreting the State Department’s evolving directives and connecting us to other colleges and universities working through similar real-time issues.
Experts in global mental health and services have volunteered to train members of the community on trauma informed practice and a number of mental health practitioners are working with our team on offering specific services needed to help support displaced people.
Fundraising and Time Banking (Donating Time) We know you want to help. The best way to help right now is to join us at a Cocktail Reception and Silent Auction scheduled for Friday, November 12 from 3:00 -5:00 pm at the Ludlow Tent; suggested donation of $25. We will be at the reception prepared to discuss the financial and personal ways you can assist. A clothing drive is underway for a Thrift2Fight sponsored thrift sale scheduled for Friday, November 19 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. Our new students will be eligible to pick up free items during the sale. All proceeds from our fundraisers will go to the Bard Afghan Student Fund giving page. More information about thrift sale donations coming!
This has been - and continues to be - an extraordinary learning opportunity for all of us, and we're grateful to the many organizations and community groups who've offered their knowledge, ideas for collaboration, and general goodwill. We'd also like to extend a very special thanks to the entire Bard community for your ongoing expressions of support.
Sincerely, Sasha Boak-Kelly, Senior Director of Development Erin Cannan, Vice President for Civic Engagement Lauren Cooke '18, Program Assistant, Bard Abroad Erika Kaufman, Director of the Institute for Writing and Thinking Paul Marienthal, Dean for Social Action Alexa Murphy, Outreach and Education Librarian Jennifer Murray, Dean for International Studies Bethany Nohlgren, VP for Student Affairs/Dean of Students Darnell Pierce, Assistant Dean of Students Andrea Provan, Assistant Director, Health Services Danielle Riou, Associate Director, Human Rights Project Mackie Sibens, Director, Bard Admission Tamara Stafford, Director of International Services Micki Strawinski, Administrative Assistant, TLS Office Joshua Tyler, Associate Director, Admission and Director of Transfer Admission
Community Update Regarding Afghanistan (October 20, 2021)
I am writing with an update to the Bard community about our efforts to support Afghan students and scholars. Nearly 200 Afghan students have made it to the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) since August, including 180 who made the challenging journey from Afghanistan (the rest went from third countries). This brings the Afghan population of AUCA to around 300.
You can read more about the exit from Afghanistan, which entailed multiple journeys over land and via plane, here. I want to thank particularly Bryan Billings from Bard, Omar Wairich from the Open Society Foundations, and Aselya Umetalieva from AUCA, for their extraordinary efforts in this process, as well as that of the many others who contributed to this effort. We were greatly aided by officials in Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan who recognized the importance of providing students (particularly, 60 percent of whom are women) with the opportunity to continue their education.
Around 100 of the students enrolling at AUCA come from the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF). This is part of a broader agreement between Bard and AUAF to help secure the education of AUAF students and to work, where feasible, to offer Bard-accredited degrees to AUAF students. A memorandum of understanding between Bard and AUAF was announced by President Botstein and AUAF President Ian Bickford (formerly Provost of Bard College at Simon’s Rock) two weeks ago at a major event in Washington, DC. We will be working in coming weeks to implement concrete plans and pathways of study for impacted students.
As you know, President Botstein announced in August that we would be accepting as many as 100 Afghan students here at Bard institutions—Annandale, Simon’s Rock, and Berlin. One student has arrived at Bard already, (this is a pretty extraordinary story), and we anticipate another dozen by the beginning of November and an additional 40–50 by the start of next term. BCB and Simon’s Rock are also in the process of welcoming new students. I want to thank Jen Murray, Erin Cannan, Bethany Nohlgren, Sasha Boak-Kelly, Danielle Riou, Darnel Pierce, Tamara Stafford, Taun Toay, and Mackie Siebens for their efforts in bringing the students to Bard. I also want to thank the many faculty (special call out to the L&L Division), as well as David Shein and Timand Bates, who are working on issues of their academic transition.
Tom Keenan and Jackie Baillargeon at Bard in Annandale, Aysuda Koleman from BCB, and Sasha Shtokvych of CEU continue to work to support threatened scholars, and we will likely see some on campus in the coming months.
The transition for students and faculty will be difficult. Several of the students have experienced traumatic circumstances leaving the country and are separated from loved ones, many of whom face real peril in Afghanistan. It will take a long and sustained effort to help students transition, continue their education, and build a new life, wherever that may be, and the efforts of many in this community to help with that process is very much appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Becker Vice President for Academic Affairs, Bard College Vice Chancellor, Open Society University Network
Community Update Regarding Afghanistan (September 24, 2021)
I am writing with an update to the Bard community about our efforts to support Afghan students here in Annandale, at Bard College Berlin (BCB), at Bard’s long-time dual-degree partner the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), and at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAf), which is one of our Open Society University Network (OSUN) partners.
I am writing with an update to the Bard community about our efforts to support Afghan students here in Annandale, at Bard College Berlin (BCB), at Bard’s long-time dual-degree partner the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), and at the American University of Afghanistan (AUAf), which is one of our Open Society University Network (OSUN) partners.
After much effort, we have successfully helped 115 students depart Afghanistan so that they can enroll at our partner institutions at AUCA, BCB, and American University of Beirut. I want to personally thank the staff here at Bard College and at AUCA, BCB and the Open Society Foundations for their deep commitment to the students and for working through many sleepless nights this past month. The need for helping the youth of Afghanistan is acute, as you can learn by this moving talk by Bard student Sonita Alizada ’23 at the United Nations Ministerial Event on Afghanistan earlier this week.
President Botstein announced in August that we would be accepting as many as 100 students here at Bard institutions (Annandale, Simon’s Rock, and Berlin), as well as threatened scholars. We have begun the admission process for Annandale to support AUAf students, who have already made it to the U.S., among others. Dean for International Studies Jen Murray is leading the support team in coordination with the Center for Civic Engagement, Human Rights Project, Dean of Student Affairs Office, and Office of Development and Alumni/ae Affairs to provide the appropriate support to students who have already begun arriving. We anticipate more students will arrive over the course of the academic year, both in Annandale and at Simon’s Rock. We will be calling on members of the community to help us orient these students to campus life. Information about admission and student support can be found here.
Additionally, Tom Keenan and Jackie Baillargeon at Bard in Annandale, Aysuda Koleman from BCB, and Sasha Shtokvych of CEU are working on our threatened scholars program, which, alas, has limitless demand. We will share more about this in the coming weeks.
As ever, the Bard community has been generous with an outpouring of support. Many of you have asked how to get involved, either through donating funds or donating items for students who are arriving with very little. We have established a fund specifically to support Afghan students (see link below). Dean of Students Bethany Nohlgren is organizing a collection drive for items like clothes, hygiene items, bedding, etc. Please look for more information from the support team. Information about making a monetary donation can be found on the Bard Afghan Student Fund giving page.
We are especially grateful to the Bard community, students, faculty, and administrators alike, who jumped to action in response to what is really a tragic and overwhelming crisis. I want to express special thanks to Bryan Billings, who was the linchpin of the evacuation effort on the Bard side. We navigated many difficult decisions and I am truly proud that an international team, spread out across six countries, gelled so well to come up with creative solutions to challenges none of us had ever imagined we would be addressing. The work reflects the type of deep partnerships that my colleague Susan Gillespie has written about, and what we had in mind (though certainly not the circumstances) when we created the Open Society University Network.
What is taking place in Afghanistan is a tragedy and will affect students and colleagues for a long time to come. We will continue to stand with our Afghan students for as long as it takes.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Becker Vice President for Academic Affairs, Bard College Vice Chancellor, Open Society University Network
Community Update Regarding Afghanistan (August 15, 2021)
To the Bard College Community,
With the situation in Afghanistan deteriorating quickly we wish to express, on behalf of the College, our deep concern for our Afghan students and their families at Bard here in Annandale and in Berlin, at Bard’s long-time dual-degree partner, the American University of Central Asia (AUCA), and at our Open Society University Network (OSUN) partner, the American University of Afghanistan (AUAf).
We are working now to find safe havens for students and graduates. President Botstein has offered that Bard would immediately take in as many as 100 students here in Annandale, as well as threatened scholars. Jonathan Becker, vice president for academic affairs at Bard and vice chancellor of OSUN, has arranged for The American University of Central Asia to offer scholarships through OSUN to up to 120 graduates in addition to its 120 Afghan undergraduates, and a home to another 100+ AUAf students. Several other OSUN partners have stepped forward and offered to take students and faculty through OSUN’s Threatened Scholars program.
While we were optimistic of getting hundreds of students out as recently as yesterday, and herculean efforts were taking place through the Open Society Foundations and other NGO partners to arrange for planes and third-party countries to house students during the visa process, conditions have worsened and made our efforts far more difficult in recent hours. It is extremely challenging for universities and NGOs to succeed when governments fail to demonstrate a sufficient will to act swiftly, and take the basic steps that might allow them to succeed. We are pleased to note that Ian Bickford, AUAf’s president and former Provost of Simon’s Rock, has just safely left Kabul.
The College is also working to help Bard students with family members in Afghanistan in any way we can. Several Bard faculty and administrators have joined in these efforts, and we have not given up hope for the students and faculty still in Afghanistan. We will continue to work through OSUN, the Open Society Foundations, and other partners to find ways to welcome the students to whom we made scholarship commitments. We will also work with the growing network of institutions in the United States now gearing up to welcome those who are fortunate enough to make it to the US.
What is taking place now in Afghanistan is a tragedy. It affects students and colleagues we have worked with over many years. We stand with the Afghan students from AUCA, AUAf, Bard and across the globe. Bard has a long history of helping students and faculty fleeing conflict and persecution, and we will continue to engage and help in every way possible.
Sincerely,
Leon Botstein President, Bard College Chancellor, Open Society Network
Jonathan Becker Vice President for Academic Affairs, Bard College Vice Chancellor, Open Society University Network
Student Spotlights
“I need this”: Afghan Student Jalil Sadat Settles Safely at Bard after Terrifying Journey from Kabul
Jalil Sadat escaped Kabul during the Taliban takeover and has settled safely at Bard College after a long and arduous trip from Afghanistan. “A month ago I had never imagined living somewhere else besides Kabul,” he told a reporter from NBC News. His life changed in a matter of hours as he watched Kabul fall, and his family scrambled to find help.
Bard College Student Sonita Alizada ’23 Addresses United Nations Ministerial Event on Afghanistan
Bard College junior, rapper, and international human rights activist Sonita Alizada spoke at a virtual United Nations Ministerial Event on Tuesday, September 21 focused on supporting women’s rights in Afghanistan. Alizada is an Afghan refugee who narrowly escaped being sold into marriage as a young girl. She has become an outspoken advocate for women and girls globally, using her music to call for an end to forced marriage.