Immigration and Higher Education Study Committee - Phase II: Solutions

Committee Co-Chairs
Bright Dornblaser
James Worlobah
Committee Members
Maureen Cisneros
John DeSantis
Anna Farrell
Vinodh Kutty
Nathan Lassila
Nick Leitheiser
Tim McDonald
Malcolm McLean
Matt Musel
Linea Palmisano
Suzanne Pearl
Stacia Smith
Amanda Ziebell-Finley

Staff contact: Annie Levenson-Falk (alevensonfalk[at]citizensleague.org or 651-293-0575 ext. 16)

Download the report of this study committee (pdf).

This is the second and final phase of this study. Click here for information on Phase I, which was completed in 2007.

As Minnesota's immigrant population has increased over the last three decades, our institutions of education have wrestled with questions of how to integrate immigrant students into our schools - and whether our schools are up to the task. There is little consensus over how best to educate immigrant students, and little information is available to show us what or whether we have been successful.

The 2006 Study Committee on Immigration and Higher Education identified key policy questions in four areas - information, culture, cost and preparation - that we believe are key to increasing immigrant students' readiness for and success in higher education. The 2007 Immigration and Higher Education Solutions Study Committee is charged with developing proposals that answer each of these four questions:

  • Information: How are information and services about K-12 and higher education best delivered to immigrant students and their families?
  • Culture: How can educational institutions and individual educators learn to adapt to the changing cultural makeup of their student populations?
  • Cost: What do immigrant families need to overcome the financial challenges related to higher education?
  • Preparation: What is the best way to prepare immigrant students for college-level English skills?

As part of this study, we have hosted dinner conversations around the state with Marnita's Table. Click here to find out more.

For the month of September, the committee has broken into four working groups to do research, framing discussion and making recommendations on each of the four key questions. Read more about the working groups by clicking on their titles above.

Resources:
Full committee meetings:
(click on date to view meeting materials and minutes)


August 7, 2007
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Pillsbury House

October 9, 2007
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Sabathani Community Center, Room F

October 15, 2007
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

October 25, 2007
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

November 1, 2007 CANCELLED
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

November 8, 2007 CANCELLED
4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Sabathani Community Center, Room F

November 11, 2007
Meeting of immigrant students
1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
The College of St. Catherine
Room 250
651 25th Ave. S, Minneapolis

November 13, 2007
Flannery Construction

November 29, 2007
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sabathani Community Center, Room F

December 6, 2007
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

December 13, 2007
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Sabathani Community Center, Room F

January 15, 2008
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

 January 29, 2008
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Harriet Tubman Center

February 13, 2008
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

February 21, 2008
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Harriet Tubman Center

March 11, 2008
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

March 26, 2008
5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Flannery Construction

April 3, 2008
4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Citizens League office, 4th floor boardroom
Special meeting: Policy Advisory Committee and Board review report



Locations:

Pillsbury House
3501 Chicago Ave., Minneapolis

Sabathani Community Center
310 East 38th Street, Minneapolis
Room F is on the third floor. You can ask for directions at the information desk on the main floor.

Flannery Construction
1375 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul

Harriet Tubman Center
3111 1st Avenue S, Minneapolis