Several students at Middle Tennessee State University find themselves in a dire situation after their visas were revoked. University officials brought this to light, revealing that six international students must now navigate the complexities of this abrupt change. According to WKRN, the information was disclosed during a Student Government Association meeting held last Thursday with Middle Tennessee State University Provost Mark Byrnes.
MTSU’s commitment to its international students was underscored by President Sidney McPhee who, in a statement acquired by Sidelines, said, “We greatly value our international student community, and, through our International Affairs office, we are reaching out to impacted students and are working to answer any questions they may have.” The international student body at Middle Tennessee State University was reportedly more than 600-strong last semester. Amid concerns about how to assist the students now far from campus, university officials are also considering how the students might complete their degrees internationally.
This upheaval is reflective of a broader national context, with an amicus brief filed on April 11 indicating that around 700 international students have had their visas cancelled across the country. As noted by The Tennessean, the revoked visas compel students to abruptly leave the U.S., and represent a fraction of the roughly 1.5 million international students studying stateside, many of whom are pursuing degrees in high-demand fields like computer science and business administration…