Dear Drexel Engineering Colleagues, Students and Friends,

I write today to the entire Drexel Engineering community to share my deep concern about the  new procedural guidance regarding international students and fall instruction requirements  issued recently by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Student and Exchange Visitor program, and to acknowledge the added stress and anxiety many of you may be feeling on top of what has already been a remarkably disconcerting few months.

Drexel’s Office of International Students and Scholars reached out to all potentially affected students earlier this week, including a statement from President Fry that noted in part, “ We will do everything possible to preserve these critical relationships, and to safeguard the students, faculty, and professional staff who are at the heart of what we do. These members of the Drexel community have our strongest backing.”
 
International students positively enrich the Drexel Engineering community and contribute significantly to advancements and innovations that benefit society at large. Please know that we are currently collaborating with our colleagues across campus to explore options, and will be creative and flexible in identifying ways to provide our international students with compliant schedules. Our efforts will also be guided by the recent public policy statements of respected engineering scholarly and professional societies, including the American Society for Engineering Education  statement on prevention of nonimmigrant students from taking online-only coursework , and the American Association for the Advancement of Science  statement on U.S. ICE guidelines for international students related to visa status.
 
On behalf of the college, I am committed to doing our part to ensure that Drexel Engineering not only remains, but flourishes, as a supportive and welcoming place for international students, as well as students, faculty and staff from all backgrounds.
Sharon L. Walker, PhD
Dean and Distinguished Professor
Footer