A message form President Nemer on international student visas
Dear UA students, faculty and staff,
You may have recently read reports about the revocation of visas for international students studying at colleges and universities throughout the United States. At The University of Akron, we value our international students and provide them with the same type of support and access to resources we offer to any other student experiencing personal or educational uncertainty. Recently, the University has learned that the visas of three of our students have been revoked. In addition, their Student and Exchange Visitor Information Status (SEVIS) records have been terminated, putting their legal status in the United States at risk. In each case, the University learned of these status changes from the SEVIS database, and we were not given advanced notice.
We empathize with our international community as they navigate the challenges of immigration. While The University of Akron will continue to follow the law and governmental guidance, we feel it is nevertheless important to address the subject, and we recognize that there are many on the UA campus worried about their international peers and colleagues. The leadership team shares these concerns.
The American Council on Education (ACE) and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU), found here, have requested further information from the federal government to better understand the process and potential impacts on students. As we learn more information, we will keep the community updated.
During the past year, The University of Akron has formulated an international student recruiting task force and, over the course of several years, the institution has signed reciprocal agreements with universities around the globe. International students remain an important component of our UA fabric, and we are committed to our community's knowledge of and access to information as it becomes available.
Sincerely,
President R.J. Nemer
The University of Akron
Media contact: Cristine Boyd, 330-972-6476, cboyd@uakron.edu