Duke Advises International Faculty, Students to Avoid Travel Outside of U.S.
On Tuesday, Duke University issued an official warning to its international community that advised students and faculty on international visas to not leave the country unless absolutely necessary. The email, which was sent to all students, faculty, and staff, highlighted the “increased risks involved in re-entering into the United States” in light of the “maximum vetting policy” imposed by the Trump administration, as well as the threat of a potential travel ban on citizens of certain countries.
Takeaways:
While other higher ed institutions, including Brown University, have released recent travel advisories for students, Duke’s communication is the most cautious to date among high-profile schools. Duke also sent an additional communication directly to international students, advising them to “be mindful of their digital footprint and recognize its potential impact on their immigration status.” As the Trump administration has been especially hostile to those who have been critical of the treatment of Palestinian people during the war in Gaza and with U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials reportedly searching some phones and other electronic devices as people reenter the U.S, some fear that past social media posts could jeopardize their visa status.
Duke University warns international students not to leave US even during summer break (The Independent) – 4/22/25
Navigating F-1 Visa Uncertainty: Guidance for Universities and Students
In light of the new challenges facing international students amid new Trump-era restrictions, Sasha Ramani, corporate strategy leader for the international scholarship and loan company MPOWER Financing, advised on ways that universities can help students succeed in the visa process. Mr. Ramani’s number one recommendation is for universities to enhance guidance for prospective students. Beyond visa protocols, educating students on “campus life, academic programs, and values” will aid students in speaking specifically about why they are a great fit for the institution. Being able to clearly display interest, intent, and expertise about one’s chosen university is a key piece of the visa interview.
Takeaways:
Mr. Ramani suggests, in addition to improved guidance and clarity, that colleges and universities should be self-effacing about potential immigration risks for their students. By partnering with companies that provide visa readiness training, liaising with U.S consulates, leveraging data, and leaning on alumni networks, higher education institutions can increase their chances of shepherding in a greater number of international students during this uncertain time. For their part, students should not only become experts on the expectations and potential pitfalls surrounding the visa process, they should also focus on articulating an engaging and authentic story “about why they chose the university, how the program fits their goals and who inspired them.”
Turning Acceptances Into Arrivals: A University Guide To F-1 Visa Success (Poets & Quants) – 4/20/25
Fear & Uncertainty Over the Near-Term Future of International Students in the U.S.
After decades of a U.S. education policy friendly to international students, new leadership has overseen a sudden, chaotic shift. Widespread deportations, a multi-front trade war, and mounting pressure on universities to submit to governmental dictates, has led some to question whether the United States is still a welcoming environment for international students. This uncertainty can be devastating for students who have dreamt of coming to the U.S. for years, and could be devastating in a different way for a large number of American higher education institutions. International students bring in sizable revenue for many U.S. colleges and universities – especially as many international students enroll without direct institutional financial assistance. Losing that revenue will imperil many schools financially. According to University of San Diego Economist Gaurav Khanna, “Certain universities probably can weather the storm. But other universities don’t have the resources.”
Takeaways:
Higher Education is America’s 10th largest export. International students made the United States $44 billion dollars last year and are a boon to local economies. According to a NAFSA: Association of International Educators report, 378,175 jobs were created that directly support international students – that translates to one new job for every four international students enrolled in U.S. institutions. Beyond the many non-financial benefits of increasing the presence of international students in the U.S., the economic advantages make prioritizing international students common sense – a phrase thrown around quite a bit in recent months. Instead, students, families, and other stakeholders are left waiting for the dust to settle on President Trump’s chaotic first 100 days before making any firm commitments. Dr. Xiaofeng Wan, private consultant for international students and former admissions officer at Amherst College, has seen a marked increase in uncertainty among the families he serves in China. “They really don’t know whether they should send their children to a country where they don’t welcome Chinese students…It’s an unprecedented situation that we’ve never seen before.”
Losing International Students Could Devastate Many Colleges (NY Times) – 4/19/25
Onsen Travels!
May is shaping up to be a busy month on the road! In addition to attending IECA in Detroit and IACAC in Prague, I’ll also be giving testing presentations at international schools in Bulgaria and Italy toward the end of the month.
And one of our top tutors, Zach Adler, just returned from a round of in-person SAT group classes with schools in Milan, Rome, and Madrid.
If you’re ever interested in exploring an in-person or virtual presentation for your families—or a group class for your students—feel free to Schedule a call with me anytime.
Harvard’s Ability to Enroll International Students Could Be in Jeopardy
Escalating a weeks-long dispute with Harvard University, the Trump White House has threatened to block the institution’s ability to enroll international students unless Harvard agrees to provide detailed records of members of the student body who have been involved in “known illegal” or – using what must be purposely open-ended language – “dangerous activity.” Repeating antisemitism accusations, Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem scolded Harvard officials, stating, “It is a privilege to have foreign students attend.. not a guarantee.” Harvard has one of the highest percentages of international undergraduate students among U.S. higher education institutions. The school is somewhat unique in its policy of providing financial aid to international hopefuls, so barring those students might not have the same outsized effect on Harvard as it would on most other universities. The blow that would be dealt to the campus community, however, would be significant, indeed.
Takeaways:
As has been the trend with this administration, the Trump team has made serious allegations – and direct threats – without accompanying proof of wrongdoing. This strategy seems to be working, at least for now. In the words of American Council on Education president and former U.S. DOE official Ted Mitchell, “It’s punishment before a trial, punishment before evidence, punishment before an actual accusation that could be responded to…People talk about why higher ed hasn’t responded. Well, how can you fight a shadow in this way?” In a chaotic twist, it seems as though the White House’s initial letter to Harvard that began the feud – and has the potential to disrupt the plans of countless students and families – may have been sent in error.
Trump Threatens to Block Harvard From Enrolling International Students (NY Times) – 4/17/25
Mixed Feedback About the Pilot Version of the Enhanced ACT
The most recent administration of the ACT took place on April 5th with over 100,000 test takers. 16,000 of those testers completed the Enhanced ACT. Available for the first time during this administration, the Enhanced ACT provided students with a shortened and purportedly streamlined computer-based testing experience. According to the ACT’s official blog post, at least, the testing administration was a success.
Takeaways:
The actual user experience, based on reports that are still rolling in, was not quite as rosy as the ACT has portrayed here. While students have provided positive feedback about the decreased time-pressure, the platform, as expected, is said to have shown some growing pains. A test prep professional who sat for the test reported that the digital highlighting tools for reading had negligible utility, and there was no means to take notes other than provided scrap paper. Additionally, the test’s countdown timer was reported to be non-intuitive and the 5-minute warning was easy to miss. Answer choices were difficult to select and the interface was, at times, non-intuitive. There were also reported issues prior to test day, with some testers reporting last-minute changes to their registration, being switched – without their consent – from the Enhanced ACT to the full-length paper-based test with mandatory Science section.
Students Give Vote of Confidence After Taking Enhanced ACT Test (ACT Blog) – 4/17/25
Trump Administration Freezes $2 billion in Federal Funding to Harvard
On Monday, Harvard refused a list of demands levied by the Trump administration that the university said “threatens (its) values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge.” By Monday evening, the White House had responded, freezing $2.2 billion in multiyear grants and contracts to the university. This is likely the first escalation of many in the feud between the university and the federal government. There is a reported $9 billion in federal funding at stake.
Takeaways:
While Harvard contends that the Trump Administration oversight would jeopardize its academic integrity and ability to operate autonomously, the White House and its allies assert that these are issues of undue privilege and of antisemitism. In the initial letter sent to the university, the Trump administration volleyed accusations that “Harvard has in recent years failed to live up to both the intellectual and civil rights conditions that justify federal investment.” According to the federal antisemitism task force “Harvard’s statement today reinforces the troubling entitlement mindset that is endemic in our nation’s most prestigious universities and colleges.” Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY), who spearheaded the 2024 hearings that contributed to the ouster of former Harvard president Dr. Claudine Gay, opined via social media that “it is time to totally cut off U.S. taxpayer funding to this institution.”
Trump Administration Will Freeze $2 Billion After Harvard Refuses Demands (NY Times) – 4/14/25
Harvard Does Not Accept the White House’s Terms
Last Friday, the White House sent Harvard University an updated list of demands, which would give the Trump administration power over faculty viewpoints, institutional hiring practices, and student disciplinary measures in exchange for a continuation of federal funding. On Monday, Harvard unequivocally rejected those demands, citing constitutional concerns and the university’s commitment to institutional independence.
Takeaways:
- In his letter to the Harvard community, Interim President Alan Garber warns that the government’s proposal represents a direct attempt to regulate the “intellectual conditions” of the university.
- The letter makes clear that while some demands relate to combating antisemitism, the majority seek control over internal matters such as speech, ideology, and the structure of university leadership.
- Garber states that Harvard will not comply and will not “surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,” citing First Amendment protections and limits on federal authority under Title VI.
- The letter outlines the university’s ongoing and future efforts to address antisemitism—including fostering viewpoint diversity, protecting free speech, and improving disciplinary fairness—on Harvard’s own terms.
- Garber frames the moment as a defense of academic freedom and the pursuit of truth, warning that the administration’s approach threatens not only Harvard, but the long-standing relationship between research universities and the federal government.
The Promise of American Higher Education (Harvard Office of the President) – 4/14/25
Bennington College Offers “Late Decision” Enrollment
Bennington College, a well-regarded private liberal arts school in Vermont, has introduced a new admissions option: “late decision.” This admissions cycle, the school set aside 15 seats in the freshman class to which students could apply as late as April 8th. Applicants who exercised this late decision option received an enrollment decision by April 17th and will need to submit their enrollment deposit by May 1st. According to Bennington College representatives, “holding space for competitive students coming to our process late is part of an accessible, holistic, and supportive admissions process.”
Takeaways:
Bennington is certainly not the only higher ed institution with admissions deadlines later than early January; some schools and programs with specific needs accept applications well into the spring. That being said, setting aside dedicated spaces for students who apply after the regular deadline is a unique practice. Bennington admissions officials cite perennial requests from college counselors for late application for students “reconsidering where they want to learn and live for college.” “Given the changing political, social, and physical climates,” Bennington believes that the demand for late enrollment will grow. The school is making sure to set aside “proportional merit- and need-based financial aid awards” for late decision enrollees.
Late Decision: Admissions Innovation or Gimmick? (Inside HigherEd) – 4/7/25ACT Setbacks and Confusion Prior to Launch of Digital Exam
Leading up to the April 5th launch of the ACT this week, there have been verified reports of students who, having previously registered for the soft-launch of the shortened Online ACT with the optional Science section, were switched – without their consent – to the full-length paper-based test with mandatory Science section. It is currently unclear how widespread this issue is, and ACT Inc. has yet to post anything in its Blog or Newsroom about the April 5th test.
Compounding these last minute changes, the ACT has yet to deliver on a new practice test for the Online ACT that was initially promised for February and subsequently pushed back to March. Although an initial practice test was released in December, it did not include a scoring scale and, as we previously reported, lacked many of the revisions promised in original communications. Thus, students who signed up for the Online ACT soft-launch – and were not switched to paper-testing – went into this week’s test without prep materials that fully reflected the test’s changes.
We will continue to follow this story as testing feedback rolls in and scores from this administration are released in the coming weeks.
Harvard’s $9B in Federal Funds at Risk Amid Trump Demands
As part of a review of Harvard’s $9 billion in federal funding, the Trump administration has threatened to cancel some or all of the university’s federal funding unless it adheres to a list of demands similar to those presented to Columbia University in March. Among the dictates, the Trump administration expects Harvard to ban masks on campus with few exemptions, hold student groups “accountable” for on campus actions, terminate any lingering race-conscious admissions, fully cooperate the with Department of Homeland Security around immigration issues including deportation, and submit its programs and departments for review for possible bias and antisemitism.
Takeaways:
A letter from the Trump administration accused Harvard of “fundamentally fail(ing) to protect American students and faculty from antisemitic violence.” In the letter, the administration informed Harvard that it expects “immediate cooperation.” The President of Harvard, Alan Garber, claims that the school has spent “considerable effort” combating antisemitism on campus but that there is still more than can be done. He contends, as well, that retaining federal funding is vital for Harvard’s mission. “In longstanding partnership with the federal government, we have launched and nurtured pathbreaking research that has made countless people healthier and safer, more curious and more knowledgeable, improving their lives, their communities, and our world.”
Trump Administration Sends Harvard a List of Demands to Protect Federal Funds (NY Times) – 4/3/25
Federal Student Aid Chief Retires After 30 Years
Denise Carter, former acting Chief Operating Officer for the Office of Federal Student Aid, announced her retirement this week. She had served in the position for 30 years, overseeing the office through four presidential administrations. Ms. Carter was also appointed by Presdient Trump after his inauguration to act as interim Secretary of Education until Linda McMahon’s confirmation last month. Under Secretary James Bergeron will take the reins from Ms. Carter as Acting Chief Operating Officer for the FSA, effective immediately.
Takeaways:
With last year’s FAFSA fiasco still fresh in the minds of most financial aid stakeholders, the destabilization brought on by the Trump Administration’s transition is, for many, cause for concern. After half of the Department of Education’s staff was laid off in March, Secretary Bergeron told higher education officials that “no employees working on core functions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid were impacted.” Despite these assurances, reductions in FAFSA call centers representatives and training for financial aid practitioners may have an immediate negative impact on users’ experience. Moreover, some FSA employees are concerned that a workforce spread thin prior to the cuts will have a hard time supporting this years’ form. Ms. Carter’s retirement – taking with her 30 years of experience and consistency – could have tangible negative effects on an already overtaxed FSA ecosystem.
U.S. Department of Education Announces Retirement of FSA Chief Operating Officer (U.S. DOE Press Release) – 4/2/25
Social Media Accounts Scrutinized As Part of Student Visa Process
Secretary of State Marco Rubio put forward an order to consular officers overseas to conduct “mandatory social media check(s)” for student and exchange visitor visas. Although Mr. Rubio has publicly stated he is focused on preventing the entry of those “committing crimes and undermining our national security or the public safety,” the cable sent to overseas diplomats suggests that applicants can be denied visas if they demonstrate “a hostile attitude toward U.S. citizens or U.S. culture (including government, institutions, or founding principles).” This wording is open-ended enough to warrant the fear that social media posts – taken, perhaps, out of context, could jeopardize someone’s chances to study in the United States.
Takeaways:
According to Mr. Rubio’s order, diplomats are to scrutinize social media posts beginning October 7, 2023, which is, of course, the day of the Hamas attack that served as the catalyst for the war in Gaza. Between this detail and the Trump administration’s ongoing rhetoric, the order’s aim is clear: identify students who are sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. While it is not yet clear how liberal the administration will be at denying visas for simply speaking out against a human rights crisis, international students who are interested in studying in the U.S. should be extremely mindful of their digital footprints. To protect themselves, students would be wise to scrub what they can of anything that could be misconstrued as being opposed to U.S. foreign or domestic policies and be extra wary of anything they post while this policy remains in place.
Rubio Orders U.S. Diplomats to Scour Student Visa Applicants’ Social Media (NY Times) – 4/1/25
Columbia’s Interim President Steps Down
Columbia University’s interim president, Katrina Armstrong, announced this week that she will be stepping down from her post. Her tenure lasted just under seven months, six months fewer than that of her short-lived predecessor, Dr. Nemat Shafik. Dr. Armstrong will stay with Columbia, returning to lead the Irving Medical Center, where, according to Armstrong, she can “best serve this University and our community moving forward.” The co-chair of Columbia’s board of Trustees, Claire Shipman, has been appointed new Acting President, effective immediately.
Takeaways:
Dr. Armstrong’s resignation comes a week after Columbia agreed to some of the Trump administration’s demands for organizational change at the university, which Columbia officials hope will help restore some of the $400 million federal funding lost over accusations of failure to curb antisemitism on campus. Although Dr. Armstrong was previously praised by Education Secretary Linda McMahon for working “very hard in a very short period of time,” the Trump administration has since soured on her, going on record to state that Armstrong’s exit is “an important step toward advancing negotiations.” It is believed that the administration was not happy with leaked comments from a Columbia faculty meeting in which Armstrong allegedly downplayed how much the government agreement would alter the current status quo at the university. In its unprecedented hands-on approach, the Trump administration is working to set an example for other institutions, more than several of which are already in the administrations’ crosshairs.
Columbia President Is Replaced as Trump Threatens University’s Funding (NY Times) – 3/28/25
Naval Academy to End Race-Conscious Admissions, Ban DEI Books
The U.S. Naval Academy has ceased its practice of race-conscious admissions. To further comply with the Trump administration’s push against “woke,” the school plans to remove certain books from its library that contain diversity, equity, and inclusion themes. Although President Trump’s executive order decries so-called “radical indoctrination” within Kindergarten through 12th grade classrooms, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office stated that this order extends to military academies and ordered the removal of the books. Cmdr. Tim Hawkins, a Navy spokesman, signaled that the Academy will take swift action: “The U.S. Naval Academy is fully committed to executing and implementing all directives outlined in executive orders issued by the president.”
Takeaways:
In the initial June decision by the Supreme Court that banned affirmative action, U.S. military academies were exempt from changing their admissions policies; military leaders had been able to convince the court that affirmative action in a military education context is “essential to national security.” A year ago, the Justice Department considered ensuring diversity among the officers’ corps “mission critical,” but these latest developments foretell the end to race-conscious admissions military academies. As of this writing, Black people constitute 20.2% of active duty enlisted Army personnel, while 11% of officers are Black; conversely, White people constitute 51.7% of active duty enlisted corps, and 68% of its officers are White.
Naval Academy Takes Steps to End Diversity Policies in Books and Admissions (NY Times) – 3/28/25
Michigan Discontinues DEI Programs
The University of Michigan announced this week that it will be making key changes to its DEI programs: the university system will immediately shutter the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and the Office for Health Equity and Inclusion and will discontinue its “DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan.” The funds from these offices and initiatives will be redirected into other programs including expanding financial aid, mental health support, community and belonging programs, and cultural and ethnic events. A message from University system leadership assured stakeholders that “these efforts underscore our commitment to prioritizing student-facing initiatives and ensuring resources are directed where they will have the greatest impact.”
Takeaways:
The university system, under pressure from then-President-elect Trump’s administration, eliminated diversity statements as part of faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure back in December of 2024. This latest move spells a drastic policy shift from an institution that spent $250 million on DEI programs over the last decade. In the message announcing the cuts, university leadership praised the past efforts of its DEI contributors, citing a 46 percent increase in first-generation students and a 32 percent increase in Pell Grant recipients since the program’s inception in 2016.
U-M announces important changes to DEI programs (UMich Record) – 3/27/25
Georgetown to Accept the Common App
For the first time in its history, Georgetown University will be accepting the Common Application. Starting in the fall of 2026, applicants for its undergraduate class of 2031 will apply to GU via the common app. In a news post to the school website, Georgetown officials cited “fostering social mobility” as the reason for the change, with a switch to the Common App leading to increased accessibility for “students of all backgrounds and maintaining a lifelong pipeline to learning, scholarship and service.”
Takeaways:
Georgetown has been one of the few holdouts against the Common App among the nation’s top higher education institutions. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and colleges within the University of California system now remain the only schools within the U.S. News and World Report’s top-50 national university rankings that solely accept their own proprietary applications.
BREAKING: GU to Join Common App (The Hoya) – 3/24/25
Columbia Caves to Trump Administration Demands
In an attempt to negotiate a recoupment of the $400 million in federal funding it has lost over claims that it mishandled antisemitism on campus, Columbia University has agreed to some key organizational changes demanded by the Trump administration. The institution has pledged to rework its disciplinary process, bring on more security officers with arrest powers, and create a board to review departments that offer courses which focus on the Middle East. These concessions were described by the Trump administration as a “precondition” for Columbia to enter “formal negotiations” with the government to argue for restoration of federal funding.
Takeaways:
Critics of this move by Columbia say that it sets a “dangerous precedent.” Rutgers University professor and president of the American Association of University Professors Todd Wolfson derided Columbia’s concession as “arguably the greatest incursion into academic freedom, freedom of speech and institutional autonomy that we’ve seen since the McCarthy era.” Many Columbia faculty and students have publicly denounced Columbia’s decision, including Mohammad Hemeida, an undergraduate who chairs Columbia’s Student Governing Board: “It’s incredibly disappointing Columbia gave in to government pressure instead of standing firm on the commitments to students and to academic freedom, which they emphasized to us in almost daily emails.” According to interim President Katrina Armstrong, the decision was made with Columbia’s priorities in mind, “to advance our mission, ensure uninterrupted academic activities, and make every student, faculty, and staff member safe and welcome on our campus.”
Columbia University agrees to some Trump demands in attempt to restore funding (Reuters) – 3/21/25
Trump Executive Order Takes Aim at Department of Education
On Thursday, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at shutting down the Department of Education. Contending that managing education “is fundamentally a state responsibility,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon assured the public that “closing the Department does not mean cutting off funds from those who depend on them.. K-12 students, students with special needs, college student borrowers, and others who rely on essential programs.” Scarce details, however, have caused alarm to some over the future of the department’s essential functions: managing federal student loan funding, tracking student achievement, and supporting programs for students with disabilities.
Takeaways:
What seemed mere months ago a fringe position espoused by more radically conservative education professionals, such as “anti-DEI crusader” Christopher Rufo is, now, one step closer to being fully realized. Flanked by a dozen children at makeshift school desks – in what some critics disparaged as “political theater” – Trump signed the order and vowed that the Department of Education’s days are numbered: “We’re going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible.” Despite the compelling photo-op, many are skeptical of the president’s power to expeditiously dissolve the DOE. Ted Mitchell, the president of the American Council on Education argues that “to dismantle any cabinet-level federal agency requires congressional approval. He “urge(s) lawmakers to reject misleading rhetoric in favor of what is in the best interests of students and their families.”
Trump Signs Order Aimed at Eliminating Education Dept. ‘Once and for All’ (NY Times) – 3/20/25
Brown Warns International Community Members About Travel Outside of the U.S.
In light of the Trump administration’s virulent attacks on immigration, Brown University put out an advisory for “international students, staff, faculty and scholars — including U.S. visa holders and permanent residents (or ‘green card holders’)” to reconsider foreign travel plans. This campus-wide email came the same week that Brown assistant professor Rasha Alawieh – an H-1B visa holder – was detained and subsequently deported after returning from a trip to Lebanon.
Takeaways:
The campus-wide email that announced the travel guidance noted that the Trump administration has not changed its official guidance around travel restrictions but that this remains a “period of great uncertainty.” During her trip to Lebanon, Dr. Alawieh had attended the funeral of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who the Department of Homeland Security considers “a brutal terrorist.” She had a court order from a judge that dictated she was to stay in the country, but the federal government claims it did not receive this order until Alawieh was already out of the country.
Brown University tells international community to avoid foreign travel (The Hill) – 3/17/25
Harvard Tuition to be Free for Families Making Under $200,000
On Monday, Harvard University unveiled a planned policy change that would result in free tuition for all students whose families whose annual earnings are $200,000 or less. This adjustment, which is expected to be rolled out this fall, will constitute an increase of more than 130 percent from the current income cap of $85,000. Currently, the cost of one year at Harvard, including tuition and housing, totals to nearly $83,000.
Takeaways:
This announcement comes four months after Harvard’s Cambridge, Massachusetts neighbors, MIT, instituted a similar policy, raising its free tuition threshold to $200,000 from $140,000. University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, University of Virginia, and University of North Carolina also have recently changed their financial aid cutoffs. With the affirmative action ban and continued pressure from the Trump administration, college admission departments have been hampered in diversity boosting efforts. Institutions are hoping that more generous financial aid packages will increase economic diversity among the student body – and, with it, racial diversity, as well.Harvard Will Make Tuition Free for More Students (NY Times) – 3/17/25
Written by
Zachary Adler
Since 2010, Zach has been helping students achieve their college readiness goals, specializing in all sections of the SAT, ACT, PSAT, and SHSAT. Prior to joining Onsen, Zach worked for a global investment firm, as well as in various roles in the education space. He has served as a youth mentor and has run college readiness information sessions for students in under-resourced communities. Additionally, Zach is a writer and filmmaker. He is an International Baccalaureate scholar and a graduate of Boston University.