Bard College has a proven record of leadership in providing a path to rigorous and rewarding undergraduate study to students fleeing major global crises and conflicts. Throughout the 20th century, from the Second World War to the breakup of the Soviet Union, the College has made a home for students of extraordinary talent for whom the door to higher education—whether for social, political, or military reasons—was otherwise closed. In the 21st century, Bard has built on this legacy by responding with urgency, ambition, and academic excellence to crises from the fall of Kabul to the war in Ukraine.
There are currently 120 young men and women enrolled at the College who are considered “displaced students,” meaning they have been forced to flee their countries of origin, leaving behind families, friends, homes, studies, and possessions. Students range in age from 17–31, and most are pursuing undergraduate degrees. 75 are from Afghanistan, 25 are from Ukraine, and another 20 are Eurasians (mainly Russian dissidents). Bard has welcomed them with full scholarships, including tuition, room, and board. While most of the Afghan students will remain in the United States and receive asylum, many of the others are hoping to return home, if ever possible. Bard has committed institutional resources to cover these costs as students move toward graduation, yet much help is needed to fund this effort.
As global challenges to democracy, stability, and human rights intensify, education for people who have been forcibly displaced is an increasingly essential need. Today, Bard continues to distinguish itself by taking action both in the classroom and in the global community. This year, over 500 displaced students have a path to higher education through Bard’s direct action. Through higher education for displaced people, Bard empowers those who are closest to civil society challenges to act as agents of change. With your support, Bard can maintain Its longstanding commitment to refugees, global reach, and public interest mission to provide significant leadership in this space.
–Aisha Khurram, Bard College Berlin student, originally from Afghanistan, writing for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
In the Press
· Chronicle of Higher Education: “Undaunted: In the Aftermath of War, a Student From Afghanistan Pursues His Education in the United States”
· Jonathan Becker for American Association of Colleges and Universities: “It Takes a Higher Ed Network”
· Hudson Valley One: “War in Peace: A Story of Two Bard College Refugees”
Bard’s History as a Refuge
Bard has a long history as a sanctuary and refuge for vulnerable populations. Bard’s efforts to support refugee scholars and students dates back to the mid 1930s, when the College gave refuge to distinguished writers, artists, intellectuals, and scientists fleeing Nazi Europe. Two decades later in 1956, Bard welcomed more than 300 Hungarian student refugees fleeing the Soviet invasion. As Bard established a global network of liberal arts institutions with the support of the Higher Education Support Program of the Open Society Foundations (OSF) in the 1990s and 2000, including partners in Germany, Kyrgyzstan, Lithuania, Palestine, and Russia, the College began utilizing its international network to help students from institutions under stress.