Set your Campus Private Sponsor Group up for success by considering group member roles and responsibilities.
Each member of your campus private sponsor group brings unique skills and abilities to the shared act of welcoming refugee students. It is recommended that groups consist of a variety of campus stakeholders, including students, staff, faculty, and community members, to provide refugee students with holistic supports during the sponsorship period. This resource provides a template for organizing your sponsor group by areas of responsibility. Members may work across multiple areas to welcome refugee students on your campus and in your community.
Group Coordinator
Each group should have a designated “group coordinator” This person is also the one who will create an account and fill in the application.
- Ensures guidelines are followed, core services are completed and program documentation is submitted
- Liaise with institutional leadership and relevant departments, e.g. financial aid
- Liaise with admissions office on student placement process
- Facilitate team meetings and communications and recruitment of new group members
- Coordinate completion and submission of important documents, such as:
- Change of address form
- Selective Service registration
- 30- and 90-day reports
- 6- and 12-month surveys
Finance & Employment
These group members facilitate fundraising efforts and help the refugee student(s) with job preparation such as English language learning, connection to part-time employment or internship opportunities, applying for federal financial aid if applicable, and building financial literacy.
- Coordinate with institutional leadership and relevant departments on tuition supports. etc.
- Facilitate and coordinate fundraising efforts with institutional leadership
- Oversee group funds disbursements
- Develop budget for the group
- Support student(s) in securing part-time employment or internships, if desired, including resume writing, interview tips, etc.
- Support student(s) in applying to federal financial aid, if applicable
- Create monthly budget with refugee student(s) and support building financial literacy
Room & Board
These group members help secure safe, free housing and coordinate basic necessities for the refugee student(s).
- Secure & furnish safe, free housing
- Arrange for school supplies
- Arrange meal plan and/or provide food staples
- Provide seasonally appropriate clothing
Documentation & Healthcare
These groups members support the refugee students(s) in obtaining documentation and connect the refugee students(s) to necessary health, dental, and desired mental health services.
- Ensure refugee student(s) are enrolled in health and dental insurance
- Connect to healthcare providers
- Connect to mental healthcare resources as desired or needed
- Ensure refugee student(s) obtain critical documentation such as a Social Security card, employment authorization, and a state ID
Welcoming & Local Orientation
These group members greet the refugee students(s) at the airport and help learn about their new campus community.
- Meet refugee student(s) at the airport & transport them to housing
- Ensure orientation of refugee student(s) to the campus and surrounding community
- Ensure orientation of refugee student(s) to public transportation (bus, train, rideshare, etc.)
- Ensure orientation of refugee student(s) to campus rules, federal, state and local laws and acquaint them to personal and home safety
- Facilitate connections to student clubs, campus events, local ethnic community and/or if the refugee newcomers are of certain faith, facilitate connection to local mosque, church or temple, as desired
- Connect with refugee student(s) for regular check-ins on academic and overall integration
Academic Supports
These group members support the refugee student(s) in navigating the higher education system and connect to language learning opportunities.
- Orient refugee student(s) to the American classroom
- Support students with class enrollments
- Connect refugee student(s) to an academic advisor and academic supports such as academic writing, computer literacy, career services, etc.
- Connect refugee student(s) to on-campus ESL classes or off-campus language learning opportunities
