Following a change to federal policy regarding international college students, international students enrolled at UNC may see their immigration status revoked if they take exclusively remote courses or the university shifts to entirely online instruction.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency notified universities across the country this week about a temporary change to its Student and Exchange Visitor Program due to COVID-19. It states students who take exclusively online course loads for the Fall 2020 semester will not be permitted remain in the United States. The provision would also be enacted if a university is operating entirely online for all of its students. In addition, the Department of State will not issue visas to students outside the U.S. who are enrolled in fully online programs for the fall semester, according to ICE.
UNC has routinely expressed its goals to begin in-person instruction for its campus community, with the fall semester slated to begin August 10 with options of face-to-face, hybrid and remote learning available. But in March, the university moved to an exclusively remote model and drastically reduced campus operations in an effort to protect public health and mitigate the early spread of COVID-19. As part of its return plan for the fall, UNC officials have said there will be alternative options for instruction depending on how the COVID-19 pandemic progresses.
The university’s International Student and Scholar Services sent a message to the international student population following the release of the new federal guidance. In a letter from Director Ioana Costant, the department confirmed students residing outside of the U.S. for the fall semester will have their F-1 immigration status terminated if they are enrolled in entirely online courses. It also said students living in the U.S. on visas are not allowed to take exclusively online courses, meaning they must be registered for at least one face-to-face or hybrid model class in the fall.
If the entire university moves to an entirely online instruction model during the course of the semester, students with F-1 status will be required to either depart the United States or transfer to another school offering in-person classes, according to ISSS.
Following the federal policy change, some UNC students and organizations have taken to social media to post lists of hybrid model classes, which are both remote and in-person instruction, in an effort to help international students know which courses to sign up for or switch into.
UNC Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz shared message with the campus community on Thursday to reaffirm the university’s commitment to supporting and aiding its international student population.
“One of the strengths of a Carolina education lies in the diversity of experiences among our student body, including that of our more than 1,700 international students,” Guskiewicz wrote in a message also credited to Provost Bob Bouin and Vice Provost for Global Affairs Barbara Stephenson. “These students enrich our campus with perspectives from around the world, and we are grateful to them for choosing to study at Carolina. Each of them is an essential member of our University community and plays an integral role in our mission of teaching, research, and service. We are committed to doing all we can to ensure they can continue their Carolina education in a safe and supportive learning environment.”
To read the full message from ICE to United States universities about the change to its Student and Exchange Visitor Program, visit the agency’s website. Those with questions on UNC’s protocols or compliance with the guidelines are encouraged to email the International Student and Scholar Services office.
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