A version of the following message was shared to deans and campus leaders on April 10.
Dear Colleagues,
I realize the news about SEVIS record terminations for some of our current and former UW–Madison international students is deeply unsettling, and I share these concerns. I am working alongside others on campus to keep international students informed of the terminations when they occur and of their options, and to answer questions from our international faculty, staff, and visiting scholars. Please know that several campus offices are monitoring this situation closely at the national and local levels and providing resources and recommendations as circumstances develop.
I want you to have the following information:
Impacted students are being directly notified by International Student Services. They are also providing advising and answering questions sent to them by many international students. Individuals in need of immigration law assistance can be exploited and are frequently targeted by scammers, so we caution against providing alternate resources of immigration information.
Instructors can and should exercise discretion in providing flexibility to students (as is the case no matter the situation). If a student has unexpected absences or cannot complete the semester as expected, we encourage instructors to be flexible and work with the students as they are able. Incomplete grades may be an option in some cases, but it is up to the instructor to decide. Students should work directly with individual instructors to arrange for flexibility.
Impacted students who need other resources to support their wellbeing should be referred to the Office of Student Support and Assistance (OSAS).
For the affected students who are also employees, the schools, colleges, and divisions where they are employed will be contacted directly about the impact of a SEVIS record termination on their employment eligibility.
There is reason to believe that scams and other external efforts to exploit members of our international communities may be present in the state of Wisconsin, similar to events seen in national media. Any encounters with federal law enforcement officers or anyone else attempting to gain information about an individual’s circumstances or status should be reported to ISS or OLA at first opportunity.
In conclusion, I want to reiterate that many offices on campus are working closely together to develop, post, and share accurate information as it becomes available. These circumstances are unprecedented, and UW–Madison is committed to the well-being of our entire international community. For additional information, please see a set of resources.
Sincerely,
Fran Vavrus
Vice Provost and Dean
International Division