#INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS
To President Paula Wallace and Board Members,
07/08/2020
Upon the SEVP announcement regarding the modification of temporary exemptions for nonimmigrant students taking online courses during Fall 2020, we, the members of Savannah CAD Independent Student Coalition (SCADISC) have collectively decided to call on SCAD for further clarification.
We are aware that SCAD has plans to resume offering classes on ground for Fall 2020 as the SCAD Message System email on May 22, 2020 states. Nonetheless, we request that SCAD recognizes the implications of the government ratification that concern the well beings of all international students (22.6% of the SCAD student body [1]) both personally and professionally.
The following inquiries are to be addressed promptly and with absolute transparency:
Is Fall 2020 confirmed to be held on-campus? The official SEVP announcement states, “Nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States” and “…may face immigration consequences including, but not limited to, the initiation of removal proceedings.”[2] We request that SCAD releases an official statement that confirms SCAD’s final decision and plan for Fall 2020, along with a list of measures that will ensure the safety of students amidst the COVID-19 viral pandemic.
If not, what are the plans for International Students? Will there be monetary refunds for Fall 2020 tuition, on-campus housing, meal plans, and other resource fees should SCAD decide to continue with the online courses?
Has SCAD as an institute taken action against the policy? We request that SCAD publicly and actively denounces the current SEVP guidelines by advocating for international students utilizing SCAD’s social platforms. It should be expected that SCAD takes the initiatives to stand behind its student body in a time of difficulty, for “Our bees are our #1 priority.”[3]
We request that SCAD publicly responds to these inquiries as well as all SCADISC/BLMBees official letters and our demands no later than end of July 2020. Once again, we ask that transparency plays a big role in SCAD’s communication with the SCAD community.
In solidarity,
Savannah CAD Independent Student Coalition