As part of a series in The Well, Chancellor Lee H. Roberts answers questions on three important issues impacting the Carolina community: international student visas, federal funding and Carolina’s budget.
Learn how
hashtag#UNC is addressing these issues
Three with Lee: April 2025 | UNC-Chapel Hill
"Q: There’s been a lot of conversation across the higher education space about the safety of international students at various campuses. Can you talk about how the University is working to protect our international students?
A: First, it’s important to know that the University did not initiate these terminations nor were we notified by the federal government. We are actively monitoring the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), and if we learn that an international student or scholar’s SEVIS record has been terminated, then a member of International Student and Scholars Services will contact the student or scholar directly with guidance, and they will notify others on campus who play an important role in supporting students and scholars.
There’s no higher value as an institution than to keep our students safe, and that’s all our students. Our international students make up 10% of our student body. They are crucial to the health, well-being and success of the Carolina community. We want them to feel supported, welcomed and encouraged. They’re important to Carolina and have been for a long time.
We are deeply sympathetic to the unpredictability, upheaval and strain that this is causing our international students and scholars. My wife Liza and I lived abroad for seven years with two small children. I don’t know what we would have done if that situation had been suddenly disrupted, or we didn’t have the resources to react quickly. Our international students and scholars are facing high levels of uncertainty around their immigration status, and this is incredibly challenging. Nonetheless, ISSS and our Dean of Students office are working diligently to support our international students and scholars.
ISSS communicates frequently with our students and scholars about regulatory changes and how they can maintain their immigration status. Students and scholars should reach out to ISSS directly with any questions or concerns. The Dean of Students can advise, answer questions and provide health, well-being, legal and other resources or referrals for students."
Boy's really going out on a limb there.