July 10, 2020: Our Commitment to Our International Students

Dear Loyola community,

More than 30 years ago, I arrived in the US as an international student. My dreams were no different than those of many like me--I wanted to be in a country that offered me an opportunity to grow, learn, and become part of something bigger than myself. I can still remember the excitement combined with a bit of trepidation as I embarked upon this journey to get to know the country that I now call home. So, this message I send on behalf of Loyola to the community and especially to our international students is personal. 

We at Loyola are committed to our international students because we are members of the same global community. International students enrich us by sharing their passion, their talent and their dedication to making this world a better place. Our commitment to our international students is deeply rooted in our values.  Our spirit of cura personalis extends beyond just the classroom, it includes caring for the whole person. 

I want to assure you that at Loyola we are committed to helping every one of our international students continue and complete their education. Here is how we are addressing the guidance set forth by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) administered by the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  We have approximately 90 international students in F-1 student status at Loyola. All of these students will be able to continue their education at Loyola this fall through in-person or HyFlex courses if they want to be here in New Orleans or remotely from their home countries if that's what they prefer. 

While we are confident that our HyFlex course offerings will allow every student to complete their current program of study in a way that complies with the new SEVP guidance, we are also prepared to offer additional courses that meet the requirement of in-person instruction. I am particularly grateful to the many faculty who have written to us offering to deliver a free, in-person course for international students should one be needed. This is yet another testament to how deeply Loyola's faculty care for our students. 

At a national level, the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) issued a formal statement on Monday, July 6, urging the U.S. Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Hon. Chad Wolf, on behalf of the 27 Jesuit universities and colleges including Loyola New Orleans, to withdraw the current guidance. I am encouraged by many other institutions around the country joining hands in this effort. 

Tanuja Singh, D.B.A.
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs