What Colorado universities are telling international students before Trump inauguration
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Colorado College is among a handful of U.S. universities urging international students who travel home for winter break to return before President-elect Trump takes office.
Why it matters: Trump has vowed to crack down on both illegal and legal immigration, and school leaders worry one of his first actions could be an executive order restricting reentry to the U.S.
Driving the news: At least 10 universities — including Brown, Penn, USC and MIT — have told international students to be back stateside before the Jan. 20 inauguration.
Zoom in: Colorado College — a liberal arts school in Colorado Springs, where international students make up about 4.5% of its student body — contacted students on special visas to recommend they return to campus before the spring semester starts on Inauguration Day, Marlene Arnold, assistant director of International Student & Scholar Services at CC, told Axios Denver.
- School officials are also meeting one-on-one with international students this week "out of an abundance of caution to prevent travel issues and to reinforce that they are welcome here, we want them here, and there are people speaking up for them," Arnold said.
Yes, but: Most colleges across the country, including Colorado's largest institutions, are taking a wait-and-see approach rather than issuing proactive travel advisories.
University of Colorado Boulder spokesperson Nicole Mueksch told Axios Denver the school can't speculate on the Trump administration's potential actions, but said it will "continue to support" international students "regardless of who's in office."
- CU Boulder is consulting with organizations like the American Council on Education to prepare for possible policy changes, Mueksch added.
- Meanwhile, the University of Denver — which begins classes the week of Jan. 6 — did not issue any advisories since their international students will already be back in the U.S. by inauguration, spokesperson Jason Gruenauer said.
The big picture: The U.S. hosts roughly 1.1 million international students, according to NAFSA, a nonprofit advocating for global education.
- These students not only enrich campus diversity, advocates say, but also often pay tuition rates up to three times higher than U.S. residents, contributing significantly to university budgets.
What's next: As uncertainty looms over potential immigration policies, university leaders are monitoring developments closely.
- "We … will continue to work with our campus partners to support the mental health and well-being of our international students, ensuring they feel a sense of belonging and inclusion here at CC," Arnold said.
Go deeper: Universities warn international students to return before Trump inauguration