Next year, I will receive my doctorate in law and politics from Northeastern University College of Professional Studies, although my educational path has been more difficult than many other students. The College of Professional Studies gave me this opportunity to pursue my dream. I believe Northeastern can do more to create better educational pathways and opportunities for vulnerable populations.I am from Iran and came to the United States 10 years ago as a refugee. I grew up under a biased education system. The Iranian regime's Islamic ideology heavily influences the system, from preschool programs to higher education, to create ideological forces for its totalitarian system. However, I was unaware of this ideological system designed to brainwash us until I was banned from studying in Iranian universities because of my reformist political activities. At the same time, I was a top student in political science. Even now, many students like those who believe in Baha'i faiththey are not allowed to attend a college or university because of their beliefs.
When I arrived in the United States in 2012, I wanted to continue my education in political science and get my master's degree as soon as possible. I took English as a Second Language, or ESL, classes right away, but when it came time to apply to university, the process was too complicated for someone like me, who was unfamiliar with this country's education system. Navigation websitepreparing requirements, getting letters of recommendation when no one knew me, and transferring my credits from Iran to here while the regime was forcing me to leave my country were all huge challenges in my educational journey.
When I became responsible for managing refugees from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria and some Eastern European countries, I realized that many of my clients were concerned about their educational path. Many of them had to leave their countries before finishing their degrees. Many were unable to access their old universities to request course credential letters after fleeing the war, or the regimes confiscated all their documents, including their diplomas. They wanted to go back to school and complete their education right away. Despite their challenges, US colleges and universities were not ready to accept refugees.
Most often, refugee adults have limited opportunities to pursue their educational goals. Refugee reception and placement, or R&P, is a federal program to provide essential services such as case management, housing and employment services to new refugees within the first three months of their arrival. Each state with a resettlement program conducts the program through local agencies. Local refugee resettlement agencies' contract with the federal government requires them to assist refugees with ESL classes. However, the goal of R&P is self-sufficiency and is designed to push refugees to find work as soon as possible and become independent from public benefits.
In other words, local agencies provide intensive ESL classes to refugees and prepare them for the job market. Refugees with advanced English skills are forced to find the first available jobs. Otherwise, they would lose their benefits, especially rent assistance.
Returning to the educational path is extremely difficult for adult refugees. Typically, first-generation refugees are forced to sacrifice their educational dreams to survive by working entry-level jobs. Many stay in these key positions for life, sometimes working double shifts to afford the cost of living. In their rare free time, some refugees, if lucky, might find work in their field, but they are poorly paid because their degree is not from a US academic institution.
Northeastern University, as one of the most globally recognized universities in the US, can take some proactive steps to support refugee adults as they pursue their educational dreams and create some educational support for this vulnerable population. For example, the university could provide an easy-to-navigate website with all its resources for refugees, such as waiving application fees and creating a notable exception for transferring their degrees from their home universities. Northeastern could make a fund or scholarship for the refugees or provide some tuition discount like the Full Circle Scholarship, which offers a 25% tuition discount to prospective graduate students involved in certain programs, such as the Peace Corps and Ameri Corps. In the long term, the university can expand its relationship with other federal agencies involved in the resettlement of refugees in the United States and create higher educational assistance for them.
Ali Tarokh is a PhD candidate in law and politics at Northeastern University and an Iranian-American living in Chicago. It can be reached at [email protected].
