Monmouth U. Sets Plan To Keep International Students In The U.S.

WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ — International students at Monmouth University will be able to register for at least one in-person class, according to a university spokesperson. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Monday new guidelines that deny visas to international students attending U.S. colleges offering online-only courses this fall.

Monmouth University's plan for the fall semester depends upon how much New Jersey progresses in its reopening plan.

"For the fall, Monmouth University’s current plan, which is contingent upon the State moving to Stage 3 of reopening, is to return to campus in a modified in-person format," said spokesperson Morganne Dudzinski. "This includes a combination of in-person instruction, online courses, and hybrid course delivery."

Stage 3 refers to a step in the state's plan for reopening during the coronavirus pandemic. The stage allows for higher-contact activities with significant safeguarding.

Governor Phil Murphy hasn't set a date for when the Garden State could enter Stage 3. Murphy pushed the state June 15 into Stage 2, which allowed for "moderate-risk activities," such as outdoor dining and organized sports.

Before Murphy's stay-at-home order, Monmouth University cancelled classes March 9 for two weeks after a student reported feeling "flu-like symptoms." The university, along with all other New Jersey schools, shut down in-person learning for the rest of the spring semester. Read more: Student's Sickness Cancels Monmouth Uni. Classes For 2 Weeks

Schools and universities across the nation have difficult decisions to make when it comes to handling the fall semester. ICE announced a policy change Monday that would bar foreign students from attending colleges that plan to go virtual in the fall.

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