To: The Wellesley College Community
From: President Paula A. Johnson
Re: Supporting Our International Students
Date: July 8, 2020
International students are integral members of the Wellesley community. The recent directive from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) is both ill-considered and disturbing. The College has been working since the guidance was issued to understand the evolving situation. We support the legal efforts announced earlier today by Harvard and MIT challenging ICE’s decision.
We are working to find ways to maintain the visa status for our international students. We are already planning to give international students who are either in the U.S. currently or who can travel here access to on-campus housing. We are also working with faculty to make it possible for them to receive some in-person instruction in order to remain in compliance.
Our message to our international students and their families is not to panic or make sudden changes to your program of study based on this week’s SEVP announcement. Wellesley is determined to do everything we can to respond to this guidance in a way that supports all our international students—those who are planning to study on campus as well as those who will be studying remotely.
