Colorado colleges are advising international students on certain visas, such as F-1 and J-1, to return to campus before January 20, 2025, coinciding with President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration. The move comes after similar statements from other schools in the country.
According to Alexa Gromko, spokesperson for Colorado College, the college will not anticipate any impact on international students if new policies go into effect due to the alignment of the US Presidential Inauguration Day with the start of Block 5, the official beginning of the traditional spring semester. F-1 and J-1 visas are used by most international students.
Colorado State University and CU Denver have not issued a special advisory but encourage international students to arrive ahead of schedule for the spring semester, starting on January 21. In contrast, CU Boulder has sent out routine communications to remind international students to return before the start of the semester on January 13.
The universities are taking precautions amid concerns about potential changes in immigration and visa policies under Trump’s administration. Despite this, they emphasize their commitment to supporting international students and ensuring they feel a sense of belonging and inclusion on campus.
The move follows standard practice for CU Boulder, which communicates reminders to international students well in advance of each semester. Western Colorado University is taking a more individualized approach, with an ad hoc working group across departments sharing resources and guidance to provide consistent information to its smaller international student population.
Source: https://www.cpr.org/2024/12/20/colorado-college-international-students-advised-return-before-trump-inauguration