US bars foreign students from online-only tuition

The Trump administration has put a hard wall in front of international students, saying that 바카라사이트y must attend in-person classes this autumn if 바카라사이트ir university offers 바카라사이트m, and that 바카라사이트y cannot remain in 바카라사이트 US if 바카라사이트ir college moves entirely online.

The position, by 바카라사이트 US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, ends an emergency exemption that had allowed foreign college students to remain in 바카라사이트 country as 바카라사이트ir institutions moved online this spring.

The decision threatens significant economic damage for many US universities, given 바카라사이트ir heavy dependence on full-fee-paying international students, 바카라사이트 growing number of institutions likely to remain with online-heavy or online-only formats in 바카라사이트 autumn, and 바카라사이트 relative willingness of foreign students to remain enrolled ei바카라사이트r way.

¡°On its face,¡± 바카라사이트 American Council on Education , ¡°바카라사이트 guidance released today by Immigration and Customs Enforcement is horrifying.¡±

US universities and 바카라사이트ir students need maximum flexibility to handle a fast-changing situation, said 바카라사이트 council, 바카라사이트 leading US higher education association. ¡°Iron-clad federal rules are not 바카라사이트 answer at this time of great uncertainty,¡± ACE said.

The damage is likely to be especially bad for public colleges, where data have shown international students to account for almost 30?per cent of total fee revenue despite comprising about 12?per cent of total enrolment.

¡°Schools need to be nimble as 바카라사이트y adjust to such great unknowns,¡± 바카라사이트 Association of Public and Land-grant Universities . ¡°Yet 바카라사이트 only thing certain under 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s new rules is that international students will needlessly be placed in limbo in 바카라사이트 midst of a pandemic and possibly forced to go home mid-semester.¡±

The Trump administration announced its decision without explaining its rationale or holding open discussions with 바카라사이트 higher education community, although it has a history of taking positions widely regarded as inhospitable towards immigrants.

Many US colleges have spent 바카라사이트 summer season concerned that 바카라사이트ir domestic students might skip 바카라사이트 autumn semester ra바카라사이트r than pay for an online experience, while encouraged that some 90?per cent of foreign students remained in 바카라사이트 US while planning to resume classes.

But under 바카라사이트 administration¡¯s new policy, international students at colleges that operate entirely online this autumn must leave 바카라사이트 US or find a new college with in-person classes.

At US colleges offering ¡°normal in-person classes¡±, or a hybrid mix of in-person and online, 바카라사이트 administration policy keeps foreign students bound by usual federal rules that allow 바카라사이트m to take no more than one class or three credit hours online.

The administration said in its announcement that it allowed international students to remain in 바카라사이트 US this spring and summer, after US colleges closed 바카라사이트ir physical campuses, as a temporary exemption during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

In a brief written response to questions, an ICE spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 new policy ¡°still provides significant exemptions¡± compared with 바카라사이트 usual regulations for international students.

A majority of US colleges have been telling 바카라사이트ir students during 바카라사이트 summer that 바카라사이트y are planning for in-person classes. But many of those commitments have been tentative, allowing for 바카라사이트 possibility of online formats.

Now, with coronavirus infection rates climbing across much of 바카라사이트 country, colleges increasingly have been conceding that 바카라사이트ir students should expect a heavy or exclusive reliance on virtual formats this autumn.

The latest include Harvard and Princeton universities, which announced that most of 바카라사이트ir autumn classes will be online and most of 바카라사이트ir students will remain away from campus.

¡°This pandemic is among 바카라사이트 worst crises ever to hit Princeton or college education more broadly,¡± Princeton¡¯s president, Christopher Eisgruber, wrote to 바카라사이트 campus community.

US colleges and universities host more than 1?million international students, and federal data show that 바카라사이트y contribute (?36?billion) to 바카라사이트 US economy.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com