Vanderbilt University issued the following response to the federal government’s announcement today rescinding its immigration directive that would have forced international students to leave the United States if their institution offers remote-only instruction in the fall:
“Today’s decision affirms our strongly held belief that we must value the contributions international students and scholars make to American progress, particularly through innovation and research at our nation’s top research universities,” Chancellor Daniel Diermeier said. “We are heartened by the news that the lives of these students and their families will not have to be further upended during this incredibly challenging time.”
Vanderbilt University joined more than 50 of the nation’s top universities and colleges on Monday, July 13, to file an amicus brief in support of a lawsuit brought by Harvard and MIT seeking to prevent the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policy from going into effect.
“This reversal comes at a critical point for universities as we are about a month out from welcoming students for fall 2020. We are pleased to be able to continue our planning without the specter of this change that would have been disastrous for all concerned – the international students who have organized their lives around remaining in the United States, and institutions that have spent months carefully developing plans to continue our educational missions as safely as possible,” Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Susan R. Wente said.
For more information about Vanderbilt’s plans for fall 2020, visit the Return to Campus website.