Dear UT Community,
I’m writing to share information about yesterday’s announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that adversely affects our international student community.
Under the new directive’s guidelines, UT Austin will be operating as a “hybrid model” institution this fall — offering a mixture of online and in-person classes. Although the full impact of this directive on our students remains unclear, our students should know that we will do everything possible to ensure you receive the support you need to remain on track with your education and research.
Our students and their families are already dealing with an immense amount of angst and uncertainty in navigating numerous pandemic-related challenges, and this announcement creates additional stress. We will do everything we can to support students on F-1 visas and keep them connected to our campus.
As you all know and have experienced, international students are valued and important members of our community. They contribute to our academic mission in critical ways through their unique perspectives, research and teaching.
Our International Students and Scholars team in Texas Global will continue to provide updated information directly to these students and the campus. I encourage you to regularly check their website for the most current and accurate information available. Students with questions can contact an advisor at hotline@austin.utexas.edu.
I can only imagine how stressful this news is for our students. You are essential members of our community, and we will rally together to support and help you.
Sincerely,
Daniel Jaffe