As many in the UNMC international community have heard, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently announced modifications to temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic for the fall 2020 semester.
“Our first priority in the Office of Global Engagement is your health and safety, ensuring that you can learn in the United States, at our university effectively,” said Dan Teet, international student advisor. “However, we also understand that this recent announcement has many of you concerned about your future.”
Read Chancellor Gold’s message of support
Please read the following items carefully. This notice includes important information, guidance and resources so international students can successfully continue their educational experience at UNMC.
For UNMC international students with F-1 status in the United States for Fall 2020, the guidance means that they:
- Must enroll full-time (Graduate students in doctoral programs who have been admitted to PhD candidacy are considered full-time with one credit hour of doctoral dissertation)
- Must enroll in at least one in-person or hybrid course
- Will be allowed to take more than one class (three credit hours) online, if necessary to meet the minimum number of classes required to make normal progress
- May not enroll entirely in online or remote courses
Students who are unable to meet the above requirements must:
- Contact their academic advisor to change their class schedule or change their academic program to meet the above requirements; or
- Contact Dan Teet at dteet@unmc.edu to determine if you are eligible for a reduced course load or discuss your other options; or
- Make plans to leave the country.
In the coming weeks, UNMC will mail new form I-20s to all new and returning international students who will be registered for a full course of study this Fall 2020. A scan of the new form I-20 also will be emailed to your UNMC email address.
Additional information and a list of frequently asked questions can be found on the UNMC website. Please note that FAQs are based on the current information available in and related to this SEVP announcement.
We will continue to monitor this developing situation and keep you up to date as changes are made.
If you have further questions regarding changes to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, please contact Dan Teet at dteet@unmc.edu.
If you are experiencing emotional stress or need someone to talk to, contact the Counseling and Student Development Center.
Excellent article about UNMC's dedicated international student advisor!
Excellent article! Excellent supports from Dan!