The Trump administration accused Harvard of tolerating ‘anti-Semitism’ and cut off billions of dollars in research funding.

On Thursday, Harvard Kennedy School (HKS), the school of public policy of Harvard University, announced a contingency plan to support international students who are unable to come to the United States due to visa or entry restrictions.

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Harvard Kennedy School will launch two options for those international students who are unable to return to the university’s campus to choose from: HKS Global and HKS at Munk School.

Designed for newly admitted and returning students, the HKS Global program is a blended academic experience that features world-class online coursework and in-person convenings around the world. Students will engage in online coursework led by HKS faculty, and attend up to three in-person convenings in cities across the world during the academic year, said the school.

HKS at Munk School program will allow returning international students to continue their HKS education from Canada. Participants will complete their HKS degree by taking a mix of online and in-person courses taught by both HKS and University of Toronto faculty.

The students will be enrolled as full-time, non-degree special students at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy. Upon completion, they will graduate with their HKS master’s degree.

The text reads, “The standoff between Harvard University and U.S. President Donald Trump continues. Faced with threats, some students are choosing to leave the United States.”

“HKS’s top priority is to teach all students on campus in Cambridge, and we are continuing to support students as they apply to obtain U.S. visas. But if that’s not possible, we are committed to ensuring that our international students can continue to get their education from Harvard Kennedy School — which is why we are announcing these contingency plans,” said HKS on its website.

“These contingency plans will be launched if there is sufficient demand from new and returning international students who are unable to come to the United States due to visa or entry restrictions. Additionally, the launch of the HKS at Munk School is contingent upon approval of the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE),” it added.

Munk School said on its website that “HKS students who participate in this program would pay tuition and fees to HKS, and in turn, HKS would cover Munk School’s associated costs.”

“During their time in Toronto, visiting students from HKS would have full access to a wide range of co-curricular activities and student life experiences. Students from both schools would have the opportunity to engage together in co-curricular and other shared activities such as panel discussions and talks throughout the year,” Munk School added.

“We hope to see you on campus in the fall, but if that is not possible, we will bring HKS to you,” Kennedy School dean Jeremy M. Weinstein wrote in an email to school affiliates, the Harvard Crimson, a student newspaper at Harvard University reported, noting that “the move shows that Harvard is continuing to prepare for the worst even as the University tallies victories over the White House in court.”

In recent months, Harvard University has been embroiled in a conflict with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, which accused the university of tolerating “anti-Semitism” and cut billions of dollars in research funding for the Ivy League university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Harvard has accused the Trump administration of trying to undermine its independence.

On Friday, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to keep Harvard University from hosting international students. U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that Harvard preserves the ability to host foreign students while the case is decided.

On May 22, U.S. Department of Homeland Security revoked Harvard’s certification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, forcing roughly 7,000 foreign students at Harvard to transfer or risk being in the United States illegally.

Harvard sued the department, calling it illegal retaliation for its rejecting the Trump administration’s demands to overhaul Harvard policies around campus protests, admissions, hiring and other issues. Burroughs temporarily halted the action hours after Harvard sued.

In early June, Trump blocked foreign students from entering the U.S. to attend Harvard, citing a different legal justification. Harvard challenged the move and Burroughs temporarily blocked the effort again.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: Xinhua

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