DACA Response

CCAS Response to the End of DACA

9/8/2017
WILLIAMSBURG, Virginia — The Council of Colleges of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) is concerned by the recently announced end of the federal Deferred Action on Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Since its inception in 2012, DACA enabled academically qualified but undocumented students access to institutions of higher education across the country to pursue their dreams of obtaining college degrees and the brighter futures that these degrees make possible. These students are vital members of our communities, but now face increased anxiety and fear as their legal status is now uncertain.
 
CCAS is a professional organization for deans of colleges of arts and sciences around the world. Our membership includes over 750 deans (and an additional 1,000 associate and assistant deans) at 525 institutions in the United States and abroad. Deans of arts and sciences are devoted to critical and robust discussions from a variety of perspectives, in and out of the classroom. Together with our colleagues across higher education, we promote student success by increasing the ability of those with diverse viewpoints to confidently express themselves and engage others in the search for truth. We believe that fostering students’ willingness to examine the evidence and thoughtfully question the conclusions and opinions others offer is a crucial component in their development into active, well-informed citizens. DACA students are vibrant participants in these efforts, and bring unique perspectives to these discussions. Campus conversations will be impoverished by their absence.
 
The CCAS strongly embraces the American democratic experiment, and we gladly accept our responsibility to provide a broad education in arts and sciences that is the foundation of the American education establishment for all students, documented as well as undocumented. The DACA program enables students who are among the best and brightest on our campuses to pursue their dreams and contribute to their communities. We stand with our students and join colleagues throughout the United States in urging Congress to pursue legislation that will restore an important program that benefits the nation as a whole.

This statement has been provided by the CCAS Board of Directors.

For more information contact:
Amber E. Cox, Executive Director
www.ccas.net
ccas@wm.edu
757-221-1784