Editor’s note: Individuals from the AAUP chapter at UT Austin quoted in the article are speaking independently and not on behalf of the University.
In a letter sent to UT administrators on April 9, the UT chapter of the American Association of University Professors called on University leadership “urgently to address” the revocation of multiple international students’ visas and to refrain from complying with orders to disclose student information to immigration authorities.
AAUP requested the University administration regularly check the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System database and immediately inform impacted students of any changes to their legal status. AAUP also called on the University to ensure impacted students, including those receiving funding or stipends, could complete their studies.
Pauline Strong, president of the AAUP chapter at UT, said in light of immigration enforcement actions, individual departments were working to support international students but had limited means without clear administrative guidance.
“Faculty would really like to help students think through their options,” Strong said. “Without information from the administration, we really can’t help our students in a meaningful way. In writing this letter, one of our motivations is to let students know that we are thinking about them and care about them and want to support them.”
During the April 21 Faculty Council meeting, Interim President Jim Davis said Texas Global is prepared to work with impacted students and provide the necessary resources for their individual circumstances.
Currently, international students have access to advising services through International Student and Scholar Services. Sonia Feigenbaum, senior vice provost for global engagement and chief international officer at Texas Global, said in comparison with the scale of visa revocations across other universities in the U.S., only a small number of students have been impacted at UT.
“We are not here to talk about numbers because we want to make sure that what really ensues is our support of each individual,” Feigenbaum said. “In terms of the capricious nature, that is something that one can only infer without knowing all of the details. I would say that neither I nor anyone that works at Texas Global can make that kind of a determination.”
Feigenbaum said once a student’s legal status has been terminated, Texas Global encourages them to seek legal assistance. In their letter, AAUP urged the University to pay for and provide for this legal support. Executive committee member Lauren Gutterman said she is concerned about the capacity of Texas Global to serve an increasing number of students seeking guidance on their individual immigration statuses.
“International students have devoted so many resources — time, money (and) disrupted their lives to come here and study, so I think it’s only fair that we do everything in our power to allow them to continue, working towards and to complete the degrees that they have invested so much in,” Gutterman said.
Strong said the committee’s efforts were aligned with the AAUP national chapter in advocating for the right to due process for community members impacted by immigration enforcement and the role faculty could play in University decision-making.
“We would just like to see the university be as supportive of students as possible,” Strong said. “These are our students, right? These are students that we’ve recruited. These are students that we have educated. These are students whose futures are important to us.”
Gutterman said the committee heard from David Vanden Bout, the interim executive vice president and provost, this past week and will move forward with plans for a meeting to discuss the contents of the letter and next steps.
