In response to recent concerns among
international students planning to study in the United States, the University
of South Florida (USF) in Tampa has extended its deadline for applications to
Masters and PhD programmes for Fall 2017 from February 15 to June 1, 2017. The
raging speculation and media commentary on possible administrative actions on
F-1, J-1, and H1-B visas and Optional Practical Training (OPT) guidelines has
led to a feeling of uncertainty in U.S.-bound students around the world.
The University, with almost 1,000
Indian students (out of a total student strength approaching 50,000) has
stressed that current “speculation about OPT and H-1B’s is just that,
speculation”. However, understanding the sense of confusion among some students
and appreciating their need to make informed decisions, USF took the step of
extending international graduate deadlines.
Emphasizing that “as a matter of fact,
nothing has currently changed for Indian nationals,”Dr. Roger Brindley, USF
System Vice President, points out that the world has already seen that making
changes to travel visas through an Executive Order in a vibrant democracy is
not easy or quick. “The President may well take this to the Supreme Court or he
will ask his advisors to write an alternative version but we are all witnessing
the checks and balances in the U.S. system.”
Dr. Brindley noted that “to date there
has been no change in the status and mobility of any F-1 or J-1 student from
any other country except the seven identified. Indian F-1, J-1 and OPT
students, H-1B holders and permanent residents are unaffected at this time; and
speculation about multiple leaked documents has not been matched by formal
announcements and is therefore unsubstantiated.”
“Simply put,” Dr. Brindley says,
“prospective students should not worry at this time although we surely
understand their anxiety, and so have decided to give them more time to
communicate with the University of South Florida and their peers currently
studying here. They will quickly find out it is business as usual at USF and
nothing has changed for Indian nationals. Worrying speculation in the social
media is simply that – worrying.”
USF, which was among the first to reach out to
international students to stress how it valued diversity soon after Donald
Trump won the Presidential election, believes that “international students and
faculty are indispensable to our mission as a global research university
dedicated to student success. Each day, they enrich our academy of scholars and
add to the quality and relevance of our educational and research purposes. With their intellectual capital and diverse
experiences/perspectives, our Indian students help faculty pursue invigorating
new lines of inquiry while helping all USF students realize a world class
education.”
USF offers more than 200 programs in
its 13 colleges and the most popular among itsIndian students are courses in the
Colleges of Business, Engineering and, to a lesser extent, Public Health.
I am so happy to know that university of south Florida has extended its deadline for admission as many of my friends wanted to take admission in this university but couldn't have submitted their documents earlier.
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