MSU Mankato adds new flexible schedule program for international students

MANKATO, Minn. (KEYC) - School is back in session for MSU Mankato. But after federal policies on international students’ visas caused a rocky finish last spring, fall begins with air of uncertainty for some.

“There is a marked environment and a challenging environment that international students have been hearing about while waiting and planning their intention to study in the US,” MSU’s Dean of Global Education Will Coghill-Behrends said. “I think that some families have probably made a decision to at least pause for a moment on sending their kids to us.”

Last spring, 12 international students had their visas revoked, and one student was detained by ICE. The school said that all of those students have had their issues resolved, but that’s not the end of the struggles.

The U.S. State Department placed bans on new visas from 12 different countries. MSU saw 41 students pulled from attending the school, 18 returning students and 23 who were in the admissions pipeline.

To make the process more flexible for international students, MSU has introduced a “Mid-Semester Start” program, which will allow the students to start their fall semester in October and complete the fall semester in just eight weeks, an effort that the university says is meant to keep the university open and accessible to international students.

“It’s not just the ethos and the environment at MSU Mankato, but it’s the entire Mankato, St. Peter, this entire region. We need everybody to continue to rally to support, stand with and be that encouraging voice for international students that we’ve come to expect,” Coghill-Behrends said.

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