Update from July 15, 2020
Facing growing opposition and lawsuits from institutions of higher learning throughout the country, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has rescinded its recent modifications to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
In accordance with the March ruling , international students living either in the United States or their home countries may continue to take classes online without the need to participate in on-campus courses in order to maintain a SEVP Active status.
LDS Business College looks forward to welcoming all its students, whether online or in person, to the start of the Fall 2020 Semester, its first as Ensign College. LDSBC is confident that its plan to use a hybrid instructional model will allow it to continue to serve its valued population of international students while being in compliance with current regulations. Please be advised, however, that the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are constantly changing and that LDSBC’s operational stance is subject to ongoing review, and appropriate changes as may be required by local, state or federal law.
Please reach out to the International Student office ( international@ldsbc.net or 801-524-8145) with any further questions.
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July 10, 2020
LDS Business College is aware of the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) addressing the status of international students during the COVID-19 pandemic. LDSBC shares the concern of its international students and is working in their behalf to provide the best and most current information. The decisions by the USDHS are very new and the higher education community is working to understand and interpret them and what factors will define an international student’s compliance. LDSBC offers these observations to its international students and will provide updates as new information and insight becomes available.
LDSBC is confident that its plan to use a hybrid instructional model will allow it to continue to serve its valued population of international students while being in compliance with these new regulations. Please be advised, however, that the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are constantly changing and that LDSBC’s operational stance is subject to ongoing review, and appropriate changes as may be required by local, state or federal law.
When making decisions about the Fall 2020 Semester, LDSBC international students should consider carefully their approach to enrollment with specific attention to where they plan to live.
Students currently living in their home countries
- Should they remain in country and enroll in all remote courses?
- Should they travel back to the U.S. and enroll in at least one hybrid course?
The recent ruling indicates that international students residing in their home countries may continue to do so, but they will not maintain their SEVIS Active status while taking online-only courses. Students who return to the U.S. and take a hybrid course with an in-person component on campus in Salt Lake City will be in compliance. If conditions with COVID-19 change and local, state or federal laws require LDSBC to return to exclusively online instruction (Zoom classes), students will be required to either transfer to another U.S. institution that offers in-person instruction or return to their home country to continue LDSBC courses online.
Students currently living in the U.S.
- Should they return to their home country and enroll in all remote courses?
- Should they remain in the U.S. and enroll in at least one hybrid course?
The recent ruling indicates that international students living in the U.S. must take a hybrid course with an in-person component on campus in Salt Lake City to be in compliance. If conditions with COVID-19 change and local, state or federal laws require LDSBC to return to exclusively online instruction (Zoom classes), students will be required to either transfer to another U.S. institution that offers in-person instruction or return to their home country to continue LDSBC courses online. International students residing in their home countries while taking online-only courses will not maintain their SEVIS Active status.
The higher education community continues to confer with U.S. congressional leaders to determine if adjustments can be made to this ruling prior to the start of the Fall semester. LDSBC is closely monitoring these conversations and tracking relevant legal developments in the courts. LDSBC will promptly inform international students of any additional changes. During this challenging time, LDSBC, and in particular its dedicated faculty, are committed to providing international students with the best instructional approaches while also keeping students and employees safe and meeting government directives.