Open Arms Endowed Scholarship

The Open Arms Scholarship will provide financial assistance to outstanding students who qualify. Students must be foreign nationals living in the U.S. with Refugee, Asylee, Asylum seeker, or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), already be admitted to or currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, and able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance in order to study at DePaul.

Eligibility: an applicant must meet the following requirements. Applicant must be:

  1. Accepted to an undergraduate or graduate degree program at DePaul University
  2. Able to demonstrate a need for financial assistance in order to study at DePaul University
  3. A foreign national living the U.S. in one of the following immigration categories:
  • Refugee status, documented through a recognized government
  • Asylee, granted asylum in the U.S.
  • Asylum seeker, with case pending with the U.S. government
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holder living in the U .S.

Note: U.S citizens and Permanent Residents (green card holders) are not eligible for this scholarship

Terminology

  • Refugee – an individual already in the United States forced to flee their home country due to a well- founded fear of persecution (because of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion) and officially recognized as a refugee by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
  • Asylee – an individual already present in the United States and who has received official recognition as such by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) due to their persecution in their home country.
  • Asylum Seeker – an individual already present in the United States who has filed an application with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) seeking official recognition as an
    asylee. Individual must already have filed an application with USCIS to be eligible for this scholarship.
  • Temporary Protected Status (TPS) – an individual already present in the United States and provided official temporary immigration status by the U.S. government in recognition for being a national of a country experiencing problems that make it difficult or unsafe for the individual.

Award
Varies
Scopes
Office of Financial Aid
Deadline
Supplemental Questions
  1. Are you a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Permanent Resident?
  2. How long have you been in the US? (Years)
  3. Immigration Status
    • Please select the status that you currently identify as:
    • Please upload the required document mentioned above corresponding to your current immigration status
  4. Scholarship Connect Student Consent
    • A) Consent Statement

      By clicking the checkbox below, I certify that all the information provided as part of the scholarship application process is accurate. I understand that as part of the scholarship application and selection process, my academic information, financial aid information, and other demographic information may be shared with individuals who are involved in the scholarship selection process and recipient reporting. This may include information from my Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), my annual award information, my Cost of Attendance components (living expenses, personal expenses, travel, books, tuition, and fees), and items related to my current academic standing and career program. By agreeing to this electronically, I am authorizing DePaul University, and providing my consent, to release my information and allowing me to be considered for scholarship opportunities. I understand that if I do not agree to this release, I will be unable to proceed with my scholarship application. I further understand that by completing the signature below and selecting the “Finish and Submit” button in this electronic application, I am signing and acknowledging my consent. My submitted signature in this electronic application has the same legal effect, validity, and enforceability as affixing my signature to a paper document. I also acknowledge that my financial aid information is being released with my explicit written authorization as allowed by the Higher Education Act (HEA), HEA 483(a)(3)(E), affirmed by Congress in the final fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill, HEA 485B, 494, the IRC 26 USC 6103(I)(13) and HEA 20 USC 1098h(c)(2) .
    • B) Consent Statement Electronic Signature
    • C) Signature Date
  5. Using English and no more than 1,000 words, submit an essay addressing ONE of three following questions: 1. If you were to write the story of your life until now, what would you title it and why? 2. What difficulties do you face in paying for your college education? 3. How do you think your current field of study or intended profession advances the spirt of the Vincentian commitment to social justice? For example, in what ways do you see yourself engage in community, civic, or leadership activities that help different communities both locally and worldwide?