MMC’s Support of International Students

Dear Students,

As you may know, on Monday, July 6, SEVP (the Student and Exchange Visitor Program) announced new F-1 visa guidance for the Fall 2020 semester. This guidance replaces the SEVP temporary waiver of required physical classroom presence that was allowed during MMC’s Spring and Summer 2020 terms. The College had expected that SEVP would continue their supportive guidance from the spring, but this is unfortunately not the case, and the MMC community is deeply troubled by and disappointed in this new legislation.

To help ease some of the anxiety you may be feeling about your status in the US and your ability to continue your education at MMC, we want to assure you that the College is fully committed to protecting the status of our international students, and we are actively focused on finding a solution that will allow us to welcome you back in the fall.

The only SEVP guidance that would require students to leave the US is if their college offers an online-only model of education for the fall. MMC’s faculty will work with our International students to design class schedules that meet the new SEVP requirements and to ensure your continued academic progress at MMC.

We are currently reviewing the guidance in detail and working with the numerous professional organizations and our peer institutions to advocate on your behalf. We are working to provide you with helpful guidance as you plan for the fall semester.

Please remember the following:

1. The guidance released yesterday is subject to change and additional guidance and clarification will likely be issued in the days ahead.
2. Monitor your MMC email and the MMC website, which will be regularly updated as additional guidance is issued.
3. We do not want you to change your plans or make plans to leave the US as a result of this new legislation. There is still sufficient time to advise you about fall 2020 and we are working on achieving any requirements issued by SEVP.

You are an essential member of the MMC family, and the entire College community is here to support you and work with you as we navigate these new policies.  We will shortly be reaching out o you for a Town Hall Zoom meeting to discuss your concerns.  We will get through this together.  Please reach out to Kean Hawker, Assistant Director for International Student Services, at khawker@mmm.edu  with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,

Todd Heilman
Vice President for Enrollment Management

Peter Naccarato, Ph.D.
Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty

Published: July 08, 2020