A Welcome Reprieve
A Message from Joel Towers, President and University Professor
Last night, our Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) ran a regular check of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). It confirmed, what we had hoped, which is that the four students I wrote to you about last week who had previously had their SEVIS records terminated have now had their records restored as part of a broad-based action by the federal government in response to legal challenges across the country.
Our ISSS staff immediately notified the impacted students and, along with our college leadership, are working with them to ensure the successful completion of their courses and the semester. We continue to encourage our international students and scholars to visit the ISSS webpage for important updates, travel guidance, and other resources—and for all members of our community to take advantage of the support and resources offered by the university.
On behalf of the whole university community, I am deeply relieved that all of our students can now complete the semester and continue their studies. That said, we will remain vigilant. Unfounded actions, like these SEVIS terminations, pose an unacceptable threat to the university. We will continue to work tirelessly to preserve and protect a campus welcoming to all students from around the world and across the country. We will stand up for freedom of speech, the pursuit of learning, tolerance, a commitment to our shared humanity, and a university where all can create extraordinary works of art, design, performance, and scholarship free from discrimination.