Student/Parent Portal
We are pleased to hear that on July 14, 2020, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) agreed to rescind their earlier policy directive that would have barred international students from staying in the United States if their schools were operating entirely online for Fall 2020. This means that the status quo, as established by the March 9, 2020 policy, is again in effect. We appreciate your support and leadership during these uncertain times. We recognize the incredible flexibility and adaptability in all that you do as a part of our collective recovery. Cambridge Network is committed to continue providing guidance and clarity for our schools and our broader community throughout this entire process.
As we transition our preparations to re-open school for the 2020-21 academic year safely, we would like to remind our partners of several key focus areas for your international programs.
While the ICE/SEVP policy directive has been withdrawn, we continue to advise our school partners to issue letters to your international students to give to U.S. Consulates stating your operational plans for Fall 2020 requesting them to proceed with your students’ visa and travel plans fairly.
Despite the situation around international travel remaining uncertain for the fall due to continuing travel restrictions and visa complications, we strongly advise school partners to finalize contingency planning and communication for various scenarios (deferral, school-provided online option, transfer, etc.). If your school has already completed re-opening plans, it is essential to have these policies easily accessible to your entire community. Here we highlight several excellent examples of school re-opening webpages and downloadable return to school plans – Vanguard College Preparatory School, All Saints Episcopal School, and Berwick Academy.
Given the current situation, it is likely that many of you will encounter delayed student arrival for your international students. With this in mind, it is imperative to have clear continued education and re-opening plans specific to international students that include hybrid learning options. If your school needs distance learning support for international students abroad, you may be interested in St. Mary’s Online Academy, an online learning platform created in collaboration with St. Mary’s School of Medford, OR taught synchronously in Asian time zones.
Lastly, it is essential to keep your international student community informed and engaged in your school’s Fall 2020 re-open plans. We suggest frequent written communication stating, or often re-stating, these relevant policies and details about your international student program for fall 2020. The Fall 2020 solutions crafted by your teams should address the specific plans involving international students through a direct dialogue between you, your students, and their families. Your school may also find it helpful to schedule a conference call with parents and international student coordinator as well as a virtual orientation before their arrival to address quarantining and general safety tips. Additionally, any specific video messaging from your school leadership and administration to your international students during this uncertain time would go a long way in demonstrating your commitment to your diverse stakeholders.
In summary, although travel advisories remain in place due to COVID-19, our team remains hopeful for the current and future of the industry. This situation is still evolving, so please continue to stay informed of the CDC’s travel advisories and the State Department travel advisories in the coming weeks.
As always, please reach out to your Program Manager if you have any questions or concerns.
