Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement issued new guidance specific to new international students. We recognize these shifting polices continue to cause unnecessary anxiety, fear and frustration for our international student community. However, this directive should not have a significant impact on our Syracuse University students.
Specifically, the guidance advises that new international students will be prohibited from traveling to the United States if their academic studies are entirely online. Currently, 99 percent of our undergraduate students are enrolled in a combination of in-person or hybrid classes, in addition to some online coursework, this semester. Our academic advisors will work with our students to ensure that any new international undergraduates will have sufficient face-to-face coursework to meet the ICE requirement. International students currently in the United States may, consistent with prior guidance, study in the U.S. regardless of the modality of their coursework.
We will also work to ensure that all new international graduate students have access to in-person courses. New graduate students will review their planned coursework with their advisor or the director of graduate studies to ensure their classes will meet the requirement.
Today’s guidance did offer one assurance: Should Syracuse University transition from residential, in-person/hybrid learning to online learning after the semester has already begun due to the pandemic, international students will not be penalized, nor will they have to leave the country.
There are numerous resources available to our international students. We encourage students who believe they may be impacted by this guidance to contact the Center for International Services at international@syr.edu or 315.443.2457.
Sincerely,
John Liu
Interim Vice Chancellor and Provost
Amanda Nicholson
Interim Deputy Senior Vice President, Division of Enrollment and the Student Experience
Peter Vanable
Dean, Graduate School
While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in geography in the Maxwell School, Rose Tardiff ’15 became involved with the Salt City Harvest Farm, a community farm near Syracuse where newcomers from all over the world grow food and make social connections….
Early in his career, Paulo De Miranda G’00 embarked on several humanitarian aid and peacekeeping assignments around the world. “When we concluded our tasks, we wrote reports about our field work, but many times felt that little insight was given…
College of Law Professor Suzette Meléndez, director of the Syracuse Medical-Legal Partnership Clinic, was honored with a 2025 Onondaga County NAACP Freedom Fund Award at their 45th Annual Freedom Fund Award Dinner. Meléndez received the Maye, McKinney & Melchor Freedom…
After over four decades of dedicated service to the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), Professor Gerald Greenberg is retiring at the end of 2025. He transitioned from his role as A&S senior associate dean for academic affairs; humanities; and…
Alonna Berry ’11, executive director of the Delaware Center for Justice and a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences, is the new president of the Syracuse University Alumni Association (SUAA) Board of Directors, as of July 1, 2025….
If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.
