Dear SoHE community,
Decades ago, I was an international doctoral student at the University of Tennessee. I know intimately what it means to manage the demands of academic rigor alongside the everyday concerns inherent in adjusting to an unfamiliar culture. Believe me, there were many occasions that I didn’t think I could make it, but thankfully, all of my American classmates and professors welcomed and mentored me and other fellow international students to succeed in completing our respective degrees. I am confident that all of us in SoHE and on campus will do exactly that to see all of our international students complete their studies with us.
We international scholars are a veritable force of research, teaching, and cultural exchange in universities across the U.S. We have overcome greater challenges than this new SEVP guidance and I know we will continue to do so, standing with one another and with our allies across departments and disciplines.
I appreciate and echo Chancellor Blank’s continued support of our global Badger community and look forward to our future successes together.
Sincerely,
Dr. Soyeon Shim
Dean, School of Human Ecology, UW–Madison
Update 7/14/20: The policy guidance has been rescinded.
Addendum from Dean Shim:
Dear SoHE community,
The rescinding of last week’s policy guidance targeting international students at U.S. universities was a welcome relief in my inbox today. However, the capricious, xenophobic, and frankly cruel decision to issue that order in the first place only confirms the importance of standing together in constant vigilance and solidarity for all members of our community. We will continue to do just this, along with our colleagues and allies at UW and across the country.
Sincerely,
Dean Soyeon Shim
School of Human Ecology, UW–Madison