On November 30, 2016, University of St. Francis (USF) President Arvid C. Johnson signed two separate statements supporting the ongoing education of students who qualify for the Deferred Action for Childhood Act (DACA) program. The first is a statement released by the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities (ACCU). The ACCU statement includes the signatures of approximately 80 Catholic college and university presidents who support the ongoing education of DACA students. The ACCU statement cites the long history of education provided by Catholic institutions for students from “a diverse array of socioeconomic, geographical, and ethnic backgrounds, often welcoming those on society’s margins, especially immigrants and underprivileged populations.”

The statement acknowledges that Catholic college and university communities continue this tradition today. By signing this statement, all of the institution leaders represented express their desire to see these DACA-qualified students continue their studies without interruption and to support them through available campus resources. USF also joined over 400 universities and colleges in signing another statement, collected by Pomona College that echoes similar sentiments. The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves 3,850 students nationwide, offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are 47,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu. University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.