The Johns Hopkins University, one of the nation’s top colleges, released a statement today calling “draconian” the Trump Administration to demand foreign students in the United States with an education visa attend in-person classes or return to their home countries.
While there are still questions to be resolved regarding the new SEVP guidance and what it means for JHU students, we take significant issue with this draconian decision that has the potential to permanently affect the lives of international students. https://t.co/WKu2iTSfG7
— Johns Hopkins University (@JohnsHopkins) July 8, 2020
Johns Hopkins noted that students are faced with a challenge of attending in-person classes which may endanger their health, or return to their home countries. And universities could face a sudden change of course if the coronavirus pandemic spikes again, causing colleges to shut down campuses, which would force students to leave the country.
“This guidance dismisses the seriousness of the public health crisis in the United States and ignores the current restrictions on global travel due to consulate closures and other pandemic-related public health concerns,” JHU President Ronald J. Daniels said. “International students are now faced with an impossible situation that causes undue stress and undermines their educational aims.”
Hopkins has more than 25,000 students in all divisions, including on foreign campuses. Approximately 19% of them are foreign nationals.