BRIEF: New requirement for incoming F-1 students
The Trump administration announced July 6 that if universities were to operate exclusively online for the fall semester, then F-1 students would return to their native countries.
In response, UHCL hosted a town hall meeting July 15, explaining the announcement and requirements for F-1students and to allow students, faculty, and staff to ask questions about the changes.
Assistant Vice President of Global Learning & Strategy Gigi Do, Director of International Admissions and Student Services Johna McClendon, and attorney Valerie Coleman-Ferguson presented the town hall meeting.
The town hall announced that UHCL will adopt a hybrid model for the fall semester which is a mixture of online and in-person classes. This will allow F-1 students to take more than one class or three credit hours online and remain in the United States per the new mandate.
Later that day, the Trump administration announced the ruling was rescinded after settling a lawsuit with Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The ruling affects current F-1 students and incoming F-1 students differently.
“Existing F-1 international students inside of the United States continuing their course of study is no longer required to take a hybrid course for the Fall 2020 semester and will be allowed to take a full course of study online,” McClendon said. “However, new initial international students planning to travel inside of the United States in an initial status will have to take as least one hybrid/bimodal course in order to be permitted entry and maintain their status for the Fall 2020 semester.”
As of July 28, UHCL has not announced any updates to the reopening of the campus since returning to phase one on June 26. “Aside from classes being offered in several different formats, all students will receive the same quality of education and support services delivered with the same level of enthusiasm and care,” said David Rachita, dean of students.
