Dear YHC Campus Community:
Young Harris college has almost six dozen students this year who are studying with F-1 “student” visas from 20 different countries, although none come from the seven countries identified in the recent executive order issued by the President of the United States and for whom travel restrictions in and out of the country may now apply.
YHC is committed to diversity and inclusion, and has been strengthened by the growth of its international student enrollment in recent years. As a United Methodist College, we are supportive of this statement in the Church’s Social Principles:
“We recognize, embrace, and affirm all persons, regardless of country of origin, as members of the family of God. We affirm the right of all persons to equal opportunities for employment, access to housing, health care, education, and freedom from social discrimination. We urge the Church and society to recognize the gifts, contributions, and struggles of those who are immigrants and to advocate for justice for all.”
In its call for comprehensive immigration reform in 2008, the United Methodist Church said, “As Christians and United Methodists, we are called to love the stranger in our midst and to treat that stranger as we would our own family.” You can find more on the Church’s perspective on welcoming migrants to the U.S. in the Resolution adopted in 2008 at https://www.umc.org/ .
The international students who have enrolled at YHC this year and over the past century have enriched our campus with their talent, intelligence, compassion, and cultural perspectives. We are grateful that they find YHC and our larger community to be a desirable destination for their education and a place of welcome.
Sincerely,
Cathy Cox
President
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