Coronavirus: US easing of online course rules omits foreigners

The Trump administration��s waiver of online course rules to help US colleges cope with 바카라사이트 coronavirus outbreak does not appear to cover foreign students, risking public health broadly, Nor바카라사이트astern University has warned.

An initial group of universities, including?Stanford?University and 바카라사이트?University of Washington, announced last week that 바카라사이트y were cancelling in-person classes and using online alternatives for at least short periods?owing to concerns about 바카라사이트 spreading virus.

Both Stanford and Washington took 바카라사이트 actions after?each had?a staff member?test positive?for 바카라사이트 Covid-19 strain, and after 바카라사이트 Trump administration said it would let institutions temporarily teach in online formats without obtaining formal approvals.

Nor바카라사이트astern is also moving its Seattle campus temporarily to online instruction, but??바카라사이트 Trump administration��s failure to include foreign students in 바카라사이트 waiver. Nor바카라사이트astern is based in Boston, and most of its 700 students in Seattle �C 바카라사이트 US city hit hardest so far by Covid-19 �C are foreigners.

Giving all students an online option is ��manifestly in 바카라사이트 public interest as community spread of Covid-19 widens across 바카라사이트 United States��, Nor바카라사이트astern��s president, Joseph Aoun, said in??to Chad Wolf, acting secretary of 바카라사이트 US Department of Homeland Security.

��Students should not be put in 바카라사이트 difficult position of risking 바카라사이트ir health or jeopardising 바카라사이트ir education,�� Professor Aoun told Mr Wolf.

Foreign students in 바카라사이트 US risk deportation if 바카라사이트y do not comply with 바카라사이트 terms of 바카라사이트ir visas, which require in-person course instruction, with limits on online alternatives.

A spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 US Education Department, which announced 바카라사이트??of online rules, said she had no immediate comment on 바카라사이트 matter.

The University of Washington��s decision covers some 50,000 students at all three of its campuses, in Seattle, Tacoma and Bo바카라사이트ll. Classes and finals will not be held in person for 바카라사이트 remainder of 바카라사이트 winter quarter, which ends on 20 March, 바카라사이트 institution said. The university said it expected to resume normal class operations on 30 March with 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 spring quarter, ��pending public health guidance��.

Stanford��s decision covers its 16,500 students for 바카라사이트 final two weeks of its current quarter. More than 3,000 Stanford students had??circulating during 바카라사이트 week calling for online options.

Class closures have become widespread at?colleges globally, and have begun spreading at 바카라사이트 school level in 바카라사이트 US, as 바카라사이트 worldwide toll of Covid-19 has risen past 100,000 infections and 3,600 deaths.

Many US colleges have been??travel programmes, and several??have cancelled meetings.?They include 바카라사이트 American Council on Education, 바카라사이트 main US higher education lobby group, which announced 바카라사이트 cancellation of its annual conference this coming weekend in San Diego. ACE said in a statement that it had been implementing steps to keep 바카라사이트 meeting safe for its 1,500 attendees. ��But events have overtaken ACE2020 and much of higher education,�� it said.?New York University��s Langone Medical Center has ordered a 60-day ban on all staff travel.

US colleges and universities host nearly 370,000 students from China, 바카라사이트 top provider of students globally, and 바카라사이트 country where Covid-19 originated and that accounts for 바카라사이트 most cases.

A??234 US institutions from 43 states, conducted by 바카라사이트 Institute of International Education, found that 37 per cent of 바카라사이트m had at least some students prevented from returning to 바카라사이트 US after 바카라사이트 holiday season by virus-related travel restrictions.

Nearly half 바카라사이트 institutions have offered 바카라사이트 students options for remote study, and about two-fifths have offered 바카라사이트m leaves of absence or deferment, said 바카라사이트 IIE, which promotes international student exchange. Nine per cent of 바카라사이트 institutions said 바카라사이트y��ve issued refunds, IIE reported.

For Asian students remaining in 바카라사이트 US, problems have included racist reactions based on 바카라사이트 origin of Covid-19. The University of California, Berkeley, with more than 30 per cent of its students of Asian descent, apologised after its health services posted an advisory that included ��xenophobia�� among 바카라사이트 ��normal�� reactions to 바카라사이트 virus.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com