Update on University Response to ICE Rule
As we shared in our message on Tuesday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued updated guidance that would expel or block entry to international students whose course of study is entirely online for the Fall 2020 semester. In response to this new rule, The New School has activated an emergency task force that has been working rapidly to devise a plan that protects our international students from the negative implications of this guidance.
We are making progress towards a number of hybrid options that will satisfy the ICE guidelines for in-person instruction for international students while maintaining a safe environment for students, faculty, and staff on our campus. The emergency task force is carefully considering a range of factors, including New York State’s COVID-19 Higher Education Guidelines for safely reopening college campuses, and changes that will enable all students, regardless of location, to continue making academic progress. Ensuring a solution that protects the interests of all our students is a guiding principle in our decision making. Concurrently, the university, in partnership with national universities and academic organizations, is advocating for elimination or modification of the rule.
This is a fast-moving, complex situation, and although we do not yet have all the answers, we expect to have additional information to share early next week. We understand that this is very consequential and that you have many questions; we ask for your patience as we work to resolve this.
We stand strongly with all of our students.