Trump Criticizes "100% Online Classes as Foolish" Despite Lawsuit Filing
Trump Warns Schools of Federal Funding Cuts
New York City Announces Hybrid In-Person and Online Classes for Fall Semester
[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have filed a lawsuit in response to the U.S. government's policy to restrict visas for international students taking 100% online classes, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 8th (local time).
According to WSJ, the two universities stated in a complaint submitted to the Boston District Court that the student-related policy announced by the Trump administration changed the guidelines previously communicated by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last spring without any prior notice, calling it an "arbitrary and capricious action."
ICE, under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, announced on the 6th that international students attending schools offering 100% online classes in the fall semester must leave the United States and that new visas will not be issued.
On the day of ICE's announcement, Harvard University announced its plan to conduct all fall semester classes online, directly affected by this measure.
U.S. President Donald Trump harshly criticized Harvard University, which decided on 100% online classes, calling it "foolish" and insisting that schools must open in the fall.
Through a tweet, President Trump also claimed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s guidelines for school reopening are excessively strict and costly, warning, "If (schools) do not open, funding could be cut."
Meanwhile, New York City, the largest school district in the United States, announced a plan to combine online and offline classes for the fall semester.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
