Chancellor's Message on Immigration Policy Announcement

Dear Rutgers University – Newark community members,

As many of you know, yesterday, the U.S. Department of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a temporary policy that affects international students who are holders of F-1 or M-1 visas, establishing a minimum requirement for coursework that must be taken in person. I write to reassure all members of our community, but especially international students potentially affected by this policy, that I and our leadership team at Rutgers-Newark are working with President Holloway, our colleagues across Rutgers, our peers across the nation, and our representatives in Congress to fully understand and respond to this announcement.

In this context, we should all be mindful that our overall approach to Fall 2020 is to employ a hybrid model of instruction. We are reviewing the guidance and analyzing the potential impact on our hybrid model and the best ways to address this situation. We will share updates on this developing situation as soon as we can.

International students are essential members of our academic community, bringing perspectives and experiences to every aspect of our work and our lives on campus and in our communities that are indispensable to our intellectual and personal growth. We are fully committed to finding solutions to the present situation reflecting that integral role in the fabric of our community and our caring for international students as irreplaceable members of the Rutgers-Newark family.

In solidarity,

Nancy Cantor

Chancellor
Rutgers University – Newark