International students whose course loads move online cannot remain in the United States, ICE says

[Elderberry]

American Military News  July 07, 2020 Steph Solis - MassLive.com

While colleges and universities across the country are considering online courses and other measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, federal officials said international students enrolled in programs that moved fully online in the fall will neither get visas nor be allowed to enter the country.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which oversees the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, issued a notice stating that international students who are currently in the country must transfer to a college or university with in-person classes or leave the country unless they want to lose their legal status.

“Nonimmigrant students within the United States are not permitted to take a full course of study through online classes,” the notice states. “If students find themselves in this situation, they must leave the country or take alternative steps to maintain their nonimmigrant status such as a reduced course load or appropriate medical leave.”

The announcement comes as Massachusetts colleges and universities are finalizing their contingency plans to allow students back for the fall semester. Harvard University announced on Monday it is going completely online for the 2020-21 academic year. UMass Amherst’s reopening plan, which was released last week, states it is “highly likely that most, if not all, of their classes will be conducted remotely.

Both universities, for example, do give students the option to participate in classes remotely or on campus, though critics of the ICE announcement say international students could have trouble taking classes in their home countries if they lack stable internet access or are barred from accessing certain websites.

More: https://americanmilitarynews.com/2020/07/international-students-whose-course-loads-move-online-cannot-remain-in-the-united-states-ice-says/

[skeeter]

Understand and heartily approve.

Imagine this happening under any other administration, of either party.

[GtHawk]

Just waiting for Joe to appeal to all these student to vote for him

[EdinVA]

So, just watch... all of the colleges will go back to in-person classes now to keep their foreign students...

[IsailedawayfromFR]

Most sensible action I have seen in awhile.

What possible justification to remain here would exist otherwise?

[verga]

Gee this might force them to reduce The number of liberal staff, which could lead to a reduction in tuition....Nah that'll never happen.

[PeteS in CA]

Something the MSM may not be telling readers/listeners/viewers:

KNOW THE RULES: ONLINE AND DISTANCE LEARNING CLASSES

https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/2012/07/know-rules-online-and-distance-learning-classes
July 13, 2012

Many U.S. colleges and universities offer online and distance learning classes. While these classes are convenient and offer flexibility, it is important for F and M students to know the rules about these types of classes to maintain status.

An online or distance learning class is a class that does not require a student’s physical attendance for classes, exams or other purposes integral to completion of the class. Even though a school may offer these classes, regulations give strict limits to the amount of online or distance learning an F or M student must follow:

* An M-1 student may not count online or distance education courses toward a full course of study.

* An F-1 student may only count one online or distance education course without the physical oversight of a school employee (or the equivalent of three credits) toward a full-course of study per academic term. F-1 students may be eligible to take more than one online class to maintain their status as long as the class is physically proctored or monitored by a school employee.

* English language program students may not count online or distance education courses toward a full course of study.

IOW, what really is happening is that the Trump Administration suspended enforcement of this during the pandemic mess, but will resume enforcing what the regulation was before he entered office.

[Cyber Liberty]

So, just watch... all of the colleges will go back to in-person classes now to keep their foreign students...

What they'll do is have special Sessions of some classes that will require in-person teaching.  Only foreign students who need them to qualify for Visas will be allowed to take them, while Americans who would prefer in-person to online classes can go pound sand.