WASHINGTON – Following is a statement by Sandra L. Shullman, PhD, president of the American Psychological Association, regarding a decision by the administration to drop a temporary federal rule that would have required international college and university students to leave the United States if their school switched to online-only classes this fall:
“We are grateful that the administration backed away from this unnecessary, ill-advised and burdensome plan. This will be a huge relief to the thousands of international students whose lives were briefly upended by the threat of sending them to their home countries if they could not take classes in person. Likewise, America’s colleges and universities can breathe a collective sigh of relief and continue planning their fall semesters keeping paramount the safety of students, faculty and other campus workers.
“Abandoning this rule recognizes the value of international students to our nation and preserves the reputation of our higher education system in the world. We urge the administration to focus its efforts on keeping all students, professors and staff safe by eradicating systemic racism and stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the United States by following the evidence-based advice of our leading scientists and public health experts.”