North Carolina universities prepare for Trump's inauguration
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A handful of universities nationwide have encouraged international students to return to campus before President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration amid fear over another travel ban. North Carolina institutions say they're closely communicating with international students ahead of the administration transition.
Why it matters: Trump's promised immigration crackdown could affect entrance to the U.S., similar to the 2017 Muslim ban from his first term, Axios' Astrid Galván and Alayna Alvarez report.
State of play: Classes resume Jan. 6 for North Carolina State University, Jan. 8 for Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Jan. 13 for the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and Jan. 21 for Davidson College.
- Students are encouraged to return in time for the first day of class. For Davidson, that's the weekend of Jan. 18-19.
What they're saying: "[This is] standard guidance though we are in close contact with students who may be affected by shifts in immigration policy, and we are carefully following those discussions and potential changes," a Davidson spokesperson tells Axios.
- N.C. State sends periodic travel reminders at the end of every semester, a university spokesperson tells Axios. The university advises international students to carry all travel-related documents and to contact their Office of International Services if they need assistance.
- Duke students are advised to check Duke Visa Services for updates.
Zoom out: Other schools have explicitly warned international students about travel disruptions related to the change in administrations.
- The University of Southern California, for instance, encouraged foreign students to return one week before classes, saying in an email that "one or more executive orders impacting travel … and visa processing" may be issued, CNN reported.
By the numbers: For the 2023-2024 academic year, 24,468 international students attended a North Carolina university, contributing $914.5 million to the U.S. economy, per nonprofit NAFSA: Association of International Educators. As of the fall 2024 semester:
- 3,358 students from 131 countries attend UNC-Chapel Hill.
- 2,000 students from more than 90 countries study at UNC Charlotte.
- 201 of Davidson's 2,080 students are international.
The bottom line: If there are changes to immigration policy, universities will be in touch with affected students.