Partnership for a New American Economy Joins Higher Education Leaders To Push For Passage Of Immigration Reform Legislation

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Partnership for a New American Economy

Sep 19, 2013, 04:50 ET

NEW YORK, Sept. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a nationwide effort led by the Partnership for a New American Economy, more than 100 colleges and university from 10 states across the country sent letters to their congressional delegations today calling for immigration reform to be passed this year.

"University and college leaders around the country know that comprehensive immigration reform is absolutely necessary for our higher education system to thrive and maintain its status as the best in the world," said John Feinblatt, Mayor Bloomberg's Chief Policy Advisor. "Their commitment to broad reform signifies its necessity for universities, states, and the nation."

"We are calling on members of the U.S. Congress to work together to bring forward a workable plan for immigration reform this legislative year," said Oklahoma City University President Robert Henry. "America has long been the global leader in innovation and economic growth. The time has come for Washington to pass comprehensive immigration reform so America can continue to lead in these significant areas."

The letters cite several reasons for the need to pass immigration reform legislation this year, including:

The prevalence of foreign-born students graduating with Master's or PhDs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields
The high demand for STEM graduates by businesses
The potential impact to the economy from passage of the DREAM Act
The need of the agricultural industry for more low-skill visas

Full copies of the letters can be viewed at: http://www.renewoureconomy.org/home/college-and-university-letters

Letters were signed by:

Dr. Joel Anderson, Chancellor, University of Arkansas – Little Rock
Dr. Paul B. Beran, Chancellor, University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
Dr. Sally Carder, President, National Park Community College
Dr. Steve Cole, Chancellor, Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
Dr. Glen Fenter, President, Mid-South Community College
Dr. Margaret Ellibee, President, Pulaski Technical College
Dr. Jack Lassiter, Chancellor, University of Arkansas – Monticello
Skip Rutherford, Dean, University of Arkansas Clinton School for Public Service
Tony Frank, President, Colorado State University
Michael Martin, Chancellor, Colorado State University System
Kay Norton, President, University of Northern Colorado
Bill Scoggins, President, Colorado School of Mines
David Svaldi, President, Adams State University
Jill Tiefenthaler, President, Colorado College
William T. Abare, Jr., President, Flagler College
Roslyn Artis, President, Florida Memorial University
Linda Bevilacqua, President, Barry University
Frank Casale, President, St. Thomas University
Anthony James Catanese, President, Florida Institute of Technology
Donald Eastman, President, Eckerd College
Judy Genshaft, President, University of South Florida
David Greenlaw, President, Adventist University of Health Sciences
John Johnson, President, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Arthur F. Kirk, Jr., President, Saint Leo University
John F. Klem, President, Clearwater Christian College
Thomas C. Leitzel, President, South Florida State College
Ed Moore, President, Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida
Donald O'Shea, President, New College of Florida
Eduardo Padron, President, Miami Dade College
Mark Rosenberg, President, Florida International University
Kevin Ross, President, Lynn University
Dona E. Shalala, President, University of Miami
Larry Thompson, President, Ringling College of Art and Design
Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President, Dillard University
Dr. Ronald Mason, Jr., President, Southern University System
Father Kevin Wildes, President, Loyola University
Aaron Kotler, President, Beth Medrash Govoha
Dario A. Cortes, President, Berkeley College
Richard A.Levao, President, Bloomfield College
Nancy H. Blattner, President, Caldwell College
R. Barbara Gitenstein, President, The College of New Jersey
Helen J. Streubert, President, College of Saint Elizabeth
Vivian A. Bull, Interim President, Drew University
Gale Gibson, President, Essex County College
Sheldon Drucker, President, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Anne Prisco, President, Felician College
Rosemary E. Jeffries, President, Georgian Court University
Dawood Farahi, President, Kean University
Susan A. Cole, President, Montclair State University
Sue Henderson, President, New Jersey City University
Joel S. Bloom, President, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Peter Mercer, President, Ramapo College of New Jersey
Herman Saatkamp, President, The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey
Mordechai Rozanski, President, Rider University
Ali Houshmand, President, Rowan University
Robert L. Barchi, President, Rutgers University, The State University of New Jersey
Eugene J. Cornacchia, President, Saint Peter's University
Gabriel G. Esteban, President, Seton Hall University
Kathleen Waldron, President, William Paterson University
David J. Skorton, President, Cornell University
Erik J. Bitterbaum, President, SUNY Cortland
David Van Zandt, President, The New School
Dr. Stephen E. Smith, President, Eastern Oklahoma State College
Dr. Kent Smith, President, Langston University
Dr. Janet Cunningham, President, Northwestern Oklahoma State University
Dr. Paul Sechrist, President, Oklahoma City Community College
Robert Henry, President, Oklahoma City University
Dr. Loren Gresham, President, Southern Nazarene University
Dr. Ed Huckeby, President, Southwestern Christian University
Randy Beutler, President, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Dr. Tom McKeon, President, Tulsa Community College
Dr. Don Betz, President, University of Central Oklahoma
David Boren, President, University of Oklahoma
Dr. John Feaver, President, University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
Dr. Phil Birdine, President, Western Oklahoma State College
Jimmy G. Cheek, Chancellor, University of Tennessee
Robert C. Fisher, President, Belmont University
John Smarrelli, Jr., President, Christian Brothers University
Bill Greer, President, Milligan College
Nancy B. Moody, President, Tusculum College
Richard W. Phillips, President, Southern College of Optometry
Gregory D. Jordan, President, King College
Kenneth L. Schwab, President, Middle Tennessee School for Anesthesia
John Morgan, Chancellor Tennessee Board of Regents
Gordon Bietz, President, Southern Adventist University
Gary E. Weedman, President, Johnson University
B. James Dawson, President, Lincoln Memorial University
Randy Lowry, President, Lipscomb University
Phillip B. Oldham, President, Tennessee Tech University
Harvill C. Eaton, President, Cumberland University
Brian Noland, President, East Tennessee State University
David E. Daniel, President, University of Texas at Dallas
Ronald DePinho, M.D, President of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Kent Hance, Chancellor of Texas Tech University System
Renu Khator Chancellor of University of Houston System
M. Duane Nellis, Ph.D., President of Texas Tech University
Robert S. Nelsen, PhD., President, University of Texas Pan-America
David W. Pershing, Ph.D., President, University of Utah
Charles A. Wight, President, Weber State University
Stan L. Albrecht,  President, Utah State University
Scott L. Wyatt,  President, Snow College
Stephen D. Nadauld, Ph.D, President, Dixie State University
Brian Levin-Stankevich, Ph.D., President, Westminster College
Rich Kendell, President, Southern Utah University
Matthew Holland, President, Utah Valley University

ABOUT PARTNERSHIP FOR A NEW AMERICAN ECONOMY: The Partnership for a New American Economy brings together more than 500 Republican, Democratic and Independent mayors and business leaders who support immigration reforms that will help create jobs for Americans today. The Partnership's members include mayors of more than 35 million people nationwide and business leaders of companies that generate more than $1.5 trillion and employ more than $4 million people across all sectors of the economy, from Agriculture to Aerospace, Hospitality to High Tech and Media to Manufacturing. Partnership members understand that immigration is essential to maintaining the productive, diverse and flexible workforce that America needs to ensure prosperity over the coming generations. Learn more at www.RenewOurEconomy.org.

SOURCE Partnership for a New American Economy