International and Immigrant Student Affairs Committee Master Plan

Initiatives for 2005 – 2006

1. Create an Online Handbook under the International Student corner of the website . This will allow students to be able to print and have a hard copy of information they may need and also the answers to questions they may have.
2. Formulate an International Student Affairs Committee on each Student Government . This committee will aid in the formulation of International Student Clubs and also voice the concerns of international students.
3. Formulate an International Student Club on each campus .
   These clubs will be the official voice of the International Students within each college through which they may promote cultural diversity though various activities.
4. Increase the Mary Ellen and Donald Passantino Scholarship for international students and students with disabilities.
5. Change parts of the criteria for the Mary Ellen and Donald Passantino Scholarship.
   Criteria 5 in the application packages states that students should send a “receipt from the bursar’s office confirming full payment of tuition for the current spring semester.” In our opinion if a student already has the money to pay for their tuition then they don’t really need a scholarship.
6. Formulate information Posters .
   These will be posted in each school and aid in students being more aware of the opportunities they have within USS.
7. Letters to High Commissions and International Organizations.
   This action is to seek financial support from these organizations so that more scholarships may be made available for International Students.
8. Workshops.
   Two workshops will be held, one in the spring and the other in the fall. These workshops will aid in the unity of CUNY International Students and also give students the ideas of activities that may draw interest on their various campuses. Certificate awards of participation will also be given to the participants.
9. Create a scholarship for the immigrant students within CUNY.
10. Promote citizenship to all eligible students with a lawful permanent residency Card
    (Green Card).
11. Advocate at the city, state and federal level for the passage of the Development Relief and Education for Alien Minors (D.R.E.A.M.) Act which has been reintroduced in congress for the third and probably most decisive time
    Under this bill, undocumented students who were brought into the U.S. before the age of 16, graduated high school, maintained good moral character( no criminal activity), and complete at least 2 years of college or military service would become eligible for permanent residency (green card) upon completing a 6 year conditional  lawful permanent residency i.e. the get a resident visa during which they have to maintain good moral character and then they can become lawful permanent residents (unconditionally).
12. Meet with the chancellor and leadership of CUNY so that they can once again be strong advocates for the D.R.E.A.M. Act at the federal level.
13. Raise awareness and outreach to students all around CUNY about this issue.
14. Organize an event in May of 2006, to push for the passage of the DREAM Act by showcasing the struggle of undocumented students who are graduating from CUNY and need this bill to pass in order to continue their careers and lives.