ISSS posted a message last week to the Daily Digest to inform academic staff and faculty about international student enrollment requirements for Spring 2021 related to distance learning. We have now received updated guidance from the government that requires a modification to the information we posted last week.
Current UConn students and new UConn students who were enrolled in a U.S. academic program as of March 9, 2020 and have continued to maintain their F-1 visa status since then, may enroll in a fully online courseload at UConn for Spring 2021 semester (as they could for fall).
New incoming students for Spring 2021 who were not in the U.S. enrolled in an academic program as of March 9, 2020, must have at least one in person or hybrid course as part of their full time courseload for Spring 2021.
New information: Students who arrived in the U.S. to begin their program for Fall 2020, who were not already in the U.S. at another academic institution as of March 9, 2020, must continue to have at least one in-person or hybrid course for Spring 2021 term.
International students who started their programs in Fall 2020 have been notified by ISSS of this requirement, and they may contact you for assistance in finding a suitable in-person or hybrid course. We appreciate any assistance you can provide your international students.
Guidance has not yet been issued for J-1 exchange visitor enrolled students, but in prior semesters the J-1 visa guidelines for distance learning mirrored the F-1 visa guidelines.
There are many unique situations related to this rule, and we ask that you continue to refer your students to ISSS to confirm whether or not they are allowed to study fully online for Spring 2021 semester.
For more information, contact: Rae Alexander at rae.alexander@uconn.edu