Harvard and University of Toronto Cooperate to Support International Students

Earlier this year, the Trump Administration attempted to stymie Harvard’s ability to enroll international students by revoking its Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certification and by banning entry to F & J visa-holders sponsored by the University. While both moves have subsequently been blocked in the courts, questions remain about whether Harvard’s international students will be able to enter the USA in the fall and start their programs.

Harvard and the University of Toronto agreement

To alleviate concerns and facilitate students’ enrollment and continued study, Harvard’s thirteen colleges are working to develop contingency plans that would come into effect if students are blocked from entering the USA. On Tuesday, the John F. Kennedy School of Government (HKS) announced that it was cooperating with the University of Toronto in Canada to organize options for international students.

If Harvard’s SEVP certification is revoked or if student visas are blocked, HKS will give returning international students the option to complete their degrees at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Students wishing to utilize this option would need to apply for and be granted a Canadian student visa. According to Reuters, the visiting student program at the University of Toronto would combine the efforts of faculty from both HKS and the Munk School. Harvard students would be enrolled at the Munk School, but would receive HKS degrees upon completion.

Other contingency plans

HKS also announced that it was seeking approval from the New England Commission of Higher Education, which accredits Harvard programs, to transition international students from on-campus to online degrees if the government's efforts to block students' entry are successful. Online students would be invited to attend in-person events outside the USA. These contingency plans would also apply to students affected by other visa and travel bans implemented by the Trump administration.

Harvard’s international students

HKS was the first Harvard college to announce its contingency plans. With 59 percent of its students coming from other countries, HKS’s proportion of international students is more than twice that of the University at large. With approximately 6,800 international students, a little more than one quarter of Harvard’s enrollment comes from outside the USA.

What’s next?

For now, Harvard continues to pursue lawsuits against the federal government and has welcomed injunctions against the administration’s attempts to halt its international student enrollment. Meanwhile, the University’s colleges are preparing other contingency plans for international students.

A statement from a Harvard spokesperson reiterated the University’s commitment to its international student community: “Harvard will continue to take steps to protect the rights of our international students and scholars, members of our community who are vital to the University’s academic mission and community — and whose presence here benefits our country immeasurably.”