President Sian Beilock met with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) while in D.C. for an event with the Constructive Dialogue Institute. They discussed the importance of federally-funded research in New Hampshire, and ways to better engage the state and business community in advocating for science. 

Dartmouth’s Office of Visa and Immigration Services, OPAL, and IDE hosted a “Know Your Rights” session on Oct. 2, during which the ACLU of New Hampshire shared information on immigration rights, public safety, community support, and how to navigate immigration-related challenges with confidence. OVIS Director Susan Ellison and Keiselim Montás, director of Safety and Security at Dartmouth, also took questions from the audience. The event was open to all students, faculty, and staff.

The White House issued a proclamation restricting the entry or re-entry of H-1B nonimmigrants to the U.S., unless the employer pays a $100,000 fee per H-1B petition. It was later clarified that the restriction does not apply to current H-1B visa holders, or any beneficiaries whose petition was pending or approved before the effective date of the proclamation. The proclamation also directed the U.S. Department of Labor and the Department of Homeland Security to promulgate regulations to prioritize highly skilled, high wage workers in the H-1B program. 

Dartmouth’s Office of Visa and Immigration Services has been communicating directly with our H-1B population on campus and providing support as needed. We are also engaging the New Hampshire Congressional delegation on the possible impacts of the proclamation on the Dartmouth community.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed a rule that would set time limits for how long individuals with F or J status—which includes international students, faculty, staff, and visiting scholars—can remain in the U.S.

Currently, such individuals are admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status,” or “D/S”, and are permitted to remain in the country as long as they are participating in their F or J program. The proposed, new rule would replace this “duration of status” with a fixed expiration date, requiring individuals with F and J status to timely file an application for extension of status if the length of their program would go past the expiration date.

The public comment period for the proposed rule ends on Sept. 29. The Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS) and Office of General Counsel (OGC) are preparing a comment on Dartmouth’s behalf opposing the proposed rule change.

OVIS has also posted an update on its website and is including information about the proposed rule during new international student orientations to ensure students understand that the rule is not yet in effect. OVIS and OGC are continuing to monitor this issue closely and will provide updates to our international community as new information becomes available.

Two new executive orders were issued in early August. The first, Ensuring Transparency in Higher Education Admissions, seeks to address the consideration of race in higher education admissions by expanding data reporting requirements for highly selective universities. Dartmouth has fully adhered with the U.S. Supreme Court decision that banned the consideration of race in higher education admissions, and is assessing how the new order impacts our procedures.

The second, Improving Oversight of Federal Grantmaking, adds an additional review of federal research grants by a senior leadership appointee at each agency. While the peer review process will be maintained, the additional review will assess whether grants recommended for funding align with Administration priorities. At this time, Dartmouth continues to receive research funding, with awards from all federal agencies being made at our negotiated indirect cost rate.

Nonetheless, Dartmouth leaders are closely monitoring the potential impacts of these and other recent federal agency announcements, providing information to our local congressional delegation to bolster their support. We also continue to closely align our advocacy efforts with those of our peers through professional organizations like the AAU.