COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio State University is joining the Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s decision to bar international students from staying in the U.S. if they take classes online this fall.
Ohio State is one of the 180 colleges and universities to sign onto an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit.
On July 6, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told colleges and universities that international students will be forced to leave the U.S. or transfer if their schools operate entirely online this fall.
To ensure international students can remain in the country to continue their studies, Ohio State said it will offer in-person, online and blended courses that all comply with the university’s health and safety plan to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Leaders at Ohio State came together to deliver a joint statement regarding the new federal rules:
The Ohio State University disagrees with the federal guidance issued this week by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about the autumn 2020 semester. We are committed to our international students and will work to develop a solution that ensures that students who attend our campuses can successfully complete their academic work this autumn.
Ohio State will offer in-person, online and blended courses to provide all students with a variety of options that also support the university’s plan for health and safety.
The latest ICE guidance will limit international students’ flexibility. These changes have the potential to create barriers to education for international students in every discipline. During a global pandemic, we support the expansion of educational opportunities to allow international students to pursue their studies in the United States, including fully online learning.
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