Rutgers Will Defend and Support Our International Students

July 8, 2020
 
Dear Members of the Rutgers Community,
 
As many of you are aware, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced new policies on Monday prohibiting international students at U.S. colleges and universities from taking course loads that are taught entirely remotely and requiring that students in such situations return home. Rutgers University strenuously disagrees with this rule change and the spirit of the change, which appears to target our vibrant international student community.
 
These new policy proposals, presented in the midst of the global pandemic, are deeply troubling. The policies would have a devastating impact on our international students’ ability to complete their Rutgers education. Our university has a mission to educate and improve the lives of our community both locally and globally. Our international students are a critical part of that mission, and we will do everything in our power to defend their ability to remain in the United States.
 
Since the proposed rules were announced earlier this week, Rutgers and its peer universities have been advocating for a congressional solution to this issue.  We are also committed to participating in any appropriate legal action to suspend the new guidance.  Finally, we are working within our own academic structure to explore and design course offerings that would meet the in-person learning requirements of the new guidance in ways that assure the health and safety of the students and faculty who would be required to attend or lead those classes.  As details of these policies and our plans develop, Rutgers Global stands ready to provide guidance to our international student body.
 
We will share further updates on our response as details of the policies are clarified. Rutgers understands the personal and the institutional impacts of these policies and will do all that we can to address them as quickly as possible. 
 
Sincerely,
 
Jonathan Holloway
President and University Professor