Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 21h

Data on international students this fall is trickling out. But rather than providing clarity about the impact of visa delays and travel restrictions on enrollments, the figures paint a confusing and sometimes contradictory picture. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

The International-Enrollment Picture Remains Hazy. Why?

Trying to nail down this fall’s new-student numbers. Plus, study abroad’s effect on salaries.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 1d

A union representing 40,000 higher-education workers said that the Trump administration has made international students and scholars at Harvard University “collateral damage” in its effort to the revoke the university’s academic-visa certification. www.courtlistener.com/docket/70684...

Amicus Curiae Brief (FRAP 29) – #00108349070 in President and Fellows of Harvard College v. United States Department of Homeland Security (1st Cir., 25-1627) – CourtListener.com

AMICUS CURIAE BRIEF tendered by United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). [25-1627] (DME)

www.courtlistener.com

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Reposted by Karin Fischer

Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: The Trump administration has given colleges a list of precepts about how they should operate to get a leg up in funding. My @chronicle.com colleagues and I broke down what's in the new compact, including its impact on international students
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

The White House’s New ‘Compact’ Would Offer Universities an Edge in Grant Funding. What’s In It?

We’ve seen what the Trump administration’s stick looks like. Let’s look at its carrot.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 6d

NEW: The Trump administration has given colleges a list of precepts about how they should operate to get a leg up in funding. My @chronicle.com colleagues and I broke down what's in the new compact, including its impact on international students
www.chronicle.com/article/the-...

The White House’s New ‘Compact’ Would Offer Universities an Edge in Grant Funding. What’s In It?

We’ve seen what the Trump administration’s stick looks like. Let’s look at its carrot.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 6d

The Trump administration is asking colleges to sign an educational "compact" that would include a 15-percent cap on international undergraduates. www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/u...

www.washingtonexaminer.com

Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 7d

A judge found that international students and other noncitizens “unequivocally” have the same First Amendment rights as Americans. But will his fiery rebuke of federal officials alleviate the chilling effect of the detention of protesters on visa holders? www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

A Federal Judge Has Ruled That Foreign Students and Scholars Have Free-Speech Rights

The decision calls threats to deport pro-Palestinian activists a “truly scandalous and unconstitutional suppression of free speech.”

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 8d

NEWS: In a case he called “perhaps the most important ever to fall within the jurisdiction of this district court," a federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration's efforts to deport pro-Palestinian protesters violates the First Amendment www.chronicle.com/article/stud...

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 8d

Federal judge rules that Trump administration's attempt to deport pro-Palestinian protesters violates international students and scholars’ speech rights. Story to follow... storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 8d

I talked international students, immigration, and the politicalization of higher education on the Future U podcast futureupodcast.com/episodes/rep...

Reporters Roundtable: How Trump Is Shaking Up Higher Ed

We’re bringing back a favorite format to go behind the headlines with top beat reporters covering colleges. Our latest roundtable focuses on how the Trump administration’s many executive orders, resea...

futureupodcast.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 9d

U.S. Sen Charles Grassley is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to stop approving work authorization for optional practical training for international students. The postgraduate work program is an opportunity espionage, the Judiciary chair said
www.judiciary.senate.gov/press/rep/re...

Grassley Calls on Homeland Security Secretary to End Unlawful Work Authorizations for Student Visa Holders, Clamp Down on Foreign Espionage | United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary

BUTLER COUNTY, IOWA – Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sent a letter to...

www.judiciary.senate.gov

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 14d

A new $100,000 fee for skilled worker visas could squeeze the pipeline of talent to American colleges, making it more difficult to hire foreign professors and researchers and the U.S. less attractive to some international students. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

Proposed Regulatory Changes Could Mean Headaches for English Programs

Also, fee hikes for H-1B visas and public opinion on international students.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 21d

Two-thirds of college presidents are “extremely” or “moderately” concerned about the impact of immigration restrictions or visa revocations on higher education, according to a new survey by @aceducation.bsky.social www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

A Campus Campaign Seeks to Add a Foreign Language. Yes, Add.

Students at Brown want courses in Tagalog, one of the most commonly spoken languages in the U.S. Also, a push to exempt students from the travel ban.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 26d

The State Dept. says that students and other visitors must apply for visas in their home countries, cutting off an alternate route for those in regions with long wait times.

How is this affecting student-visa applicants or already-scheduled appointments?

www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

The International-Enrollment Picture Comes Into Focus

Plus, the State Department wants to restrict students from applying for visas outside their home countries.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 26d

A spending bill approved by the House Appropriations Committee would revive the China Initiative, the federal investigation of academic and economic ties to China appropriations.house.gov/news/press-r...

Committee Approves FY26 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2026 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the C...

appropriations.house.gov

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · 28d

Now that the academic year has begun for most colleges, the international-student-enrollment picture is coming into focus. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

The International-Enrollment Picture Comes Into Focus

Plus, the State Department wants to restrict students from applying for visas outside their home countries.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Sep 8

There’s been unprecedented tumult in the student-visa system. American colleges are feeling the effects this fall. www.chronicle.com/article/even...

Even as Classes Begin, Some Foreign Students Are Still in Visa Limbo

Backlogs and uncertainty have upended this fall’s international enrollments.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Sep 3

A proposed rule setting time limits on international students’ study in the United States would also restrict transfers and program changes and give the federal government greater authority to determine academic progress.
www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

Latitudes: Big Changes Could Be Coming for Student Visas. Here’s What to Know.

The Trump administration wants to upend a decades-old policy and put time limits on international students’ study in the United States.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 29

The Trump administration is asking a federal appeals court to overturn a judge's ruling that blocked the government from revoking Harvard University's authority to enroll international students storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 28

On Tuesday, President Trump said during a Cabinet meeting that it was "very important" for foreign students to study in the U.S.

Today, the administration published a rule that many in higher ed fear could deter those same students from coming to the U.S.

www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

Establishing a Fixed Time Period of Admission and an Extension of Stay Procedure for Nonimmigrant Academic Students, Exchange Visitors, and Representatives of Foreign Information Media

Unlike most nonimmigrant classifications, which are admitted for a fixed time period, aliens in the F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and most I (representatives of foreign information media...

www.federalregister.gov

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 27

NEW: The Trump administration is out with a proposed rule that would set time limits on student visas, upending a longstanding policy in which international students typically can stay in the U.S. for the duration of their studies.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2025-16554.pdf

public-inspection.federalregister.gov

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 27

After canceling funding for a number of academic- and cultural-exchange programs, the Trump administration is lifting its hold on 28 others, including the flagship Fulbright Program, allowing them to move ahead in the grantmaking process. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

Fulbright and Other Global-Education Programs Are Spared From Trump’s Cuts

The White House Released its Hold After Canceling Other Academic and Cultural Exchanges.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 25

U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Education and National Counterintelligence and Security Center, have issued a bulletin warning colleges about foreign threats to research and how to mitigate them www.dni.gov/files/NCSC/d...

www.dni.gov

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 20

International-education groups have sent 12,000 messages to Congress, urging them to save two dozen academic- and cultural-exchange programs after the Trump administration retroactively pulled $100 million in funding Congress had approved. www.chronicle.com/newsletter/l...

Retroactive Cuts Could Slash Funding for State Dept. Exchanges

The White House cancels spending for global-education programs already approved by Congress.

www.chronicle.com

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Reposted by Karin Fischer

Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 14

The Trump administration intervened to stop congressionally approved funds from being spent on State Department exchange programs, raising concern that officials could target other global-education programs, like the Fulbright Program, for cuts. www.chronicle.com/article/whit...

White House Uses Back Door to Axe Approved Funds for Exchange Programs

The “irregular” process cancels spending for global-education programs already greenlit by Congress.

www.chronicle.com

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Karin Fischer @karinfischer.bsky.social · Aug 14

The Trump administration intervened to stop congressionally approved funds from being spent on State Department exchange programs, raising concern that officials could target other global-education programs, like the Fulbright Program, for cuts. www.chronicle.com/article/whit...

White House Uses Back Door to Axe Approved Funds for Exchange Programs

The “irregular” process cancels spending for global-education programs already greenlit by Congress.

www.chronicle.com

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