HANOVER, N.H. – July 8, 2020 – On July 6, the Department of Homeland Security’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) issued its initial fall 2020 operational guidance for international students. We remain firm in our belief that Dartmouth can realize its full potential only if it welcomes the most talented students, faculty, and scholars, regardless of their nation of origin. Any action inhibiting the free exchange of talent and ideas limits our ability to advance Dartmouth’s core academic mission. By restricting international students’ participation in any online courses our faculty choose to offer to protect the health and safety of our community members in the face of the continuing pandemic, the SEVP guidance strikes at the heart of that mission. For that reason, we will stand with our peers in opposing this guidance, through an amicus brief supporting today’s federal lawsuit filed by Harvard and MIT seeking a temporary restraining order prohibiting enforcement of the guidance, through the national associations advocating for higher education institutions and our international students, and through continued outreach to our elected representatives.  

In the meanwhile, with the support of the Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS), Dartmouth’s leadership team is actively engaged in identifying possible solutions for fall term instruction and housing, as informed by the potential impact of the SEVP guidance. We remain committed to communicating those decisions as quickly as possible and providing resources to our international students at this challenging time.