Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) has announced contingency plans to support international students who may be unable to travel to the United States due to visa or entry restrictions. According to MassLive, the plans will only be implemented if there is a significant number of students who are unable to travel to the U.S.
In a letter to students, HKS Dean Jeremy Weinstein wrote, “To our students: we hope to see you on campus in the fall, but if that is not possible, we will bring HKS to you,” as MassLive reported. The school has introduced the HKS Global program, which offers online instruction with up to three in-person sessions in various global locations.
Returning international students may also have the option to study at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy. Classes at the Munk School would be led by Harvard faculty and include Canadian peers. Janice Stein, founding director of the Munk School, described the arrangements as a response to current conditions affecting students' ability to travel.
This plan comes after a series of legal challenges between Harvard and the Trump administration, which included attempts to revoke the university’s ability to host international students. As reported by The Harvard Crimson, a federal judge granted Harvard a preliminary injunction, temporarily protecting the school’s certification. However, ongoing visa processing and travel restrictions remain a concern.
To assist students, HKS is offering online information sessions about study options and potential changes. The Munk School program is also pending approval from the New England Commission of Higher Education. Students planning to study in Toronto would also need to secure a Canadian visa.
Weinstein added, “Our top priority is to teach all students here on campus, and we continue to support international students as they apply for U.S. visas and travel to Cambridge,” in a statement obtained by The Harvard Crimson.
