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Foreign Students in US Ask 'Should I Stay or Go?'

International students are asking for direction regarding the upcoming fall semester, in light of many universities' switch to online classes during the coronavirus pandemic.
International students are asking for direction regarding the upcoming fall semester, in light of many universities' switch to online classes during the coronavirus pandemic.

International students in the United States have launched a petition to bring attention to what they are calling a lack of direction from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regarding the upcoming fall semester.

So far, SEVP — a program within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that issues guidelines to international students — has not issued guidance to schools and international students for the fall semester.

Since the coronavirus pandemic caused many universities and colleges to switch to online classes, international students say they worry that they won't be able to return to the United States.

"We understand international students and schools have questions, and SEVP is actively working to issue guidance," ICE stated in a June 4 press release.

When international students on an F-1 visa are not enrolled full time, they are required to take a temporary absence. If this leave of absence is longer than five months, their immigration status is in danger of being jeopardized.

"We understand that this situation is extraordinary, which is why this lack of support for international students is alarming," the petition reads.

Before universities can decide about what action to take to accommodate students on an F-1 visa, they, too, need guidance from SEVP.

"As soon as SEVP finalizes guidance for the fall term, the academic community will be informed and we will update this website," stated the University of Maryland Global Campus website.

When universities transitioned to remote learning, SEVP allowed flexibility for students to continue their courses online. "[Students] can temporarily engage in distance-learning, either from within the U.S. or outside the country, in light of COVID-19," said SEVP in a statement on March 14 to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers (NAFSA).

However, some international students believe they should get the option to take classes remotely, despite universities' plans to reopen in the fall.

"Some international students wish they could be taking the fall semester online and stay with their families back home," the petition reads. "We demand that the option to take the fall semester fully online be also given to international students."

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‘Study away’ programs in the US can provide enrichment opportunities 

FILE - Students walk on the campus of Boston College, April 29, 2024, in Boston.
FILE - Students walk on the campus of Boston College, April 29, 2024, in Boston.

While studying abroad can expose students to new cultures and experiences, researchers are finding that domestic ‘study away’ programs can be helpful as well.

Some students, including those on an international visa, may not be able to study abroad, but they can travel to other locations in the U.S. for enrichment experiences, Ashley Mowreader writes in Inside Higher Ed. (October 2024)

Fewer students disclose race in applications to top colleges 

FILE - An unidentified person walks past Harvard yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 7, 2023
FILE - An unidentified person walks past Harvard yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, December 7, 2023

FAfter the Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action in college admissions last year, fewer students are disclosing their race or ethnicity in applications to top colleges.

Writing in USA Today, Zachary Schermele notes that the data is preliminary, but it could signal a change in the way students are approaching college applications. (October 2024)

Overall college enrollment is up, first-year enrollment down 

FILE - A student delivers packages to the dormitory at DePaul University in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.
FILE - A student delivers packages to the dormitory at DePaul University in Chicago, Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2024.

For the second year since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, college enrollment has climbed in the United States.

But the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center noticed a substantial drop in the number of freshmen, which could be troubling for future enrollment, according to a report in Forbes. (October 2024)

South African universities embrace AI, seeing it as equalizing tool

South African universities embrace AI, seeing it as equalizing tool
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The rise of AI tools like ChatGPT has sparked debate in higher education, raising questions about ethics and integrity in teaching, learning and knowledge creation. In South Africa, some academic institutions are taking a proactive approach, integrating AI into their curricula. Experts say this step is not only innovative but also helps level the playing field among students. Zaheer Cassim reports from Johannesburg.

International students may be able to get jobs at school 

FILE - Northeastern University graduate student Shabbir Hussain, of Indore, India, left, views a computer screen at the entrance to the Snell Library on the Northeastern University campus in Boston on May 24, 2016.
FILE - Northeastern University graduate student Shabbir Hussain, of Indore, India, left, views a computer screen at the entrance to the Snell Library on the Northeastern University campus in Boston on May 24, 2016.

International students studying in the United States may be able to work on campus.

Jobs can include working in libraries, labs, food service and dormitories – but students will have to research the rules before applying for jobs, according to U.S. News & World Report. (September 2024)

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