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

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