We appreciate the steps that Ohio University has taken in addressing concerns about the revocation of visas and other actions by the federal government that have caused concern among many members of our community. We appreciate the recent updates and resources on university web pages.

That said, we are concerned about the potential for a vacuum of leadership in Ohio University’s efforts to support international students, scholars, and faculty.  On June 30th, the position of Associate Provost for Global Affairs will become vacant, and the university has no immediate plans to refill it.  The Associate Provost for Global Affairs is critical to overseeing and coordinating units such as the Office of Global Affairs, International Student and Scholar Services, and the Office of Global Opportunities.  At a time when international students face unprecedented uncertainty and the university has a strong obligation of care for their wellbeing, we are very concerned that OU’s leadership is not investing the necessary attention and expertise into this area. As we have seen at other times, this is a recipe for mistakes being made, balls being dropped, and communication falling by the wayside. At a time when those mistakes might mean that students are detained or imprisoned, this is unacceptable.

Additionally, we urgently request that Ohio University leadership and general counsel take the following actions to protect immigrant and international students, staff, and faculty at Ohio University:

1. As our national organization has already noted in a public letter to the offices of general counsels, Ohio University should not turn over personal student information in response to Title VI investigations.

2. Ohio University should make a clear commitment to avoid voluntary cooperation or information sharing with Immigration and Customs Enforcement or other federal agencies charged with facilitating deportation or other forms of immigration enforcement.

3. Ohio University should make a clear commitment to not comply with Section 3 of the expanded Executive Order 13899, which calls for universities to “monitor for and report activities by alien students and staff relevant to those grounds and for ensuring that such reports about aliens lead, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to investigations and, if warranted, actions to remove such aliens.”

4. Ohio University should keep international students enrolled in the event of visa revocation, legal status termination, detention, and/or deportation. Some chapters have already successfully advocated to make this happen.

5. Ohio University should allow these international students and scholars to continue their studies and research remotely, if necessary.

6. Ohio University should ensure that graduate students and workers whose enrollment is contingent upon funding through graduate teaching appointments or fellowships can continue their coursework, research, and teaching appointments. This may mean that the college or university covers the increased cost of assigning additional teaching appointments to a graduate student not residing in the United States.

7. Ohio University should devote resources to communicating reliable, timely information to international students and scholars, including immediate notification of changes in their legal status. More broadly, senior leadership of the university should provide regular communications and statements of commitment and support.

8. Ohio University should provide and pay for legal counsel for those students and scholars whose visas have been revoked.

9. Ohio University should work swiftly and affirmatively—through lawsuits, if necessary—to stop the termination of legal status of students and scholars without any due process.