Purdue University Northwest Addresses Questions And Concerns About Federal Policy On International Students

From Purdue University Northwest:

July 10, 2020

Dear PNW International Students,

We hope you are safe and well and wanted to reach out to you today because we know the recent announcements and updates from the United States government have created many questions and concerns.

We want you to know that Purdue Northwest cares deeply about your well-being and your academic career, and we are advocating on your behalf. We also are doing our very best to create a robust and safe residential fall semester experience beginning August 24 as well as an all-online option for students who will be abroad this fall semester.

Recently the Safe Return to Campus Task Force communicated the four types of course formats that will be offered. These courses are being designed to best support an engaging learning environment while ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. They are:

At this time, we would like to provide you with updated U.S. federal guidance based on the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Broadcast Message released on July 6, and the SEVP website posting of July 7. We chose not to release this information earlier because of important inconsistencies between the two messages. Unfortunately, this inconsistency has yet to be clarified, but we will share new information with you as soon as the issue is resolved. We feel it is important to share what we do know with you at the current time.

If you are a continuing or new international student who is physically present in the United States, you:

• Are required to return to campus in order to enroll for the fall semester and maintain legal status.
• May enroll in more than one online course. The minimum number of online courses required to make normal progress in one’s degree program is allowed. Students should work with their academic advisor to create an appropriate schedule.
• May not enroll in all online courses – i.e., your schedule must include some face-to-face or hybrid courses.

If you are a continuing or new international student who is not physically present in the U.S.:

• Students who are abroad for the fall semester and who are unable to return to Purdue Northwest within five months of August 24 may be required to forfeit their F-1 student status and may have their F-1 visa revoked. However, it is very important to note that this guidance is still not final from the SEVP. The July 6 SEVP Broadcast Message indicated that students who are abroad and who are enrolled in all online courses at institutions like Purdue Northwest (institutions that are offering a hybrid model of instruction) will not be able to remain in active F-1 student status. However, the July 7 SEVP website posting indicated that students who are abroad, and who enroll in a full course of study delivered via distance learning, from any SEVIS approved institution (like Purdue Northwest) could maintain Active F-1 status. We are still awaiting clarification from SEVP about this issue and will provide an update as soon as possible.
• Soon after the start of the fall semester, ISS will work with students who are abroad to facilitate their return to campus for the Spring 2021 semester.

Information for All International Students

We recognize this is an exceptionally difficult time for you and your families. The uncertainties created by COVID-19, resulting visa and travel issues, and these late-breaking announcements from SEVP certainly combine to create a very, very difficult situation for you. As we said at the beginning of this letter, we are working with our partners on your behalf.

• The Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU), of which the Purdue System is a member, has issued a statement opposing the SEVP measures. We endorse the association’s position and support fully its urging that SEVP reverse course.
• A second organization of which the Purdue System has long been a supporter is the American Council on Education (ACE). ACE has issued an equally compelling statement, and we are fully supportive of this statement as well.
• To further signal our concerns to SEVP, the Purdue System has joined an amicus brief, supporting the complaint filed by Harvard and MIT for declaratory and injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

We will continue to do everything possible to ensure that you have the opportunity to continue your Purdue Northwest academic experience — either on our campuses or online this fall.

Please contact us at iss@pnw.edu with any questions we were not able to address and we look forward to working with you this fall!

Sincerely,

Yohlunda Mosley
Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs

George F. Kacenga
Executive Director
Undergraduate Admissions, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs

This press release was produced by Purdue University Northwest. The views expressed are the author's own.