Grinnell College has temporarily suspended Curricular Practical Training, the program that authorizes international students to work in off-campus internships.
The decision, announced first by the College’s Office of International Student Affairs on Aug. 29 in its weekly newsletter, came after two broadcasts were sent on Aug. 12 and Aug. 24 by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement program.
“We did not make this decision in isolation. Many institutions across the U.S. have also paused elective CPT, and the College’s legal counsel has advised that continuing to authorize elective CPT could have serious risks for your F-1 status and for the College’s SEVP compliance,” read OISA’s email announcement.
The first broadcast, titled “Reminder of Liability for DSOs Regarding CPT Authorization,” served to “remind” designated school officials, dedicated employees for assisting and overseeing enrolled F and M students, of their role in correctly administering CPT authorization. It stated, “SEVP has observed a rise in CPT authorizations that do not meet regulatory requirements, specifically those not constituting an integral part of an established curriculum. As a result, the program is increasing its scrutiny of CPT approvals to ensure compliance with federal regulations.”
SEVP also wrote that CPT cannot be authorized for experiences not required to complete the student’s academic program. Failure to meet that requirement when authorizing CPT, according to the broadcast, can result in schools losing the ability to enroll international students and “potential penalties for providing false information or misrepresenting the nature of the training.”
The sudden change meant students who had already been authorized for an internship had to pivot their plans.
A student, who chose to remain anonymous due to concerns about their visa status, said they worry this change might affect their career. The student said they had hoped their fall internship would lead to a full-time job with the company after graduation, and now they worry someone else will take the role.
As defined in Federal Regulation 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i), CPT is an “alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school.”
The second broadcast, titled “Guidance for Designated School Officials regarding Curricular Practical Training,” made it clearer that CPT offered through an elective course does not meet the requirements outlined by the broadcast message.
The process by which a student could apply for CPT at Grinnell College was through the elective course INT-300. This credit is not limited to international students and may be used by any student attending the College. Following the two broadcasts, Grinnell College stated that it is “compelled to temporarily pause all Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization, pending further developments.” No major or concentration at Grinnell requires an internship as part of its curriculum, ruling out the possibility of CPT authorization.
Dennis Mboya `27 said the changes made him realize the importance of legal stability wherever he ends up after graduation. “I think planning outside of the U.S. is a very, very stable decision right now because the laws don’t change so frequently”, he added.
Both Mboya and the anonymous student described coming to the U.S. and Grinnell College with a certain understanding of the rules, only to have them change well after they arrived.
Although they appreciate Grinnell College and the liberal arts curriculum it offers, the anonymous student said they probably would have reconsidered their decision to apply to Grinnell if they had known CPT would be paused.
“Not having the option to intern over the summer really hampers a lot of different international students in a lot of different ways,” the anonymous student said.
Mboya said he believes third-years have it hardest, as it is still uncertain whether they can secure a summer internship and, if they can, they would most likely have to use their Optional Practical Training, reducing the time they have to work after graduation under their F-1 status.
“That’s probably a lot worse,” said Mboya.
Describing the importance of CPT, the anonymous student said that it matters not only for one’s career, but also for their academic trajectory at an academically focused liberal arts institution, such as Grinnell College. The training one receives in an internship, they said, enhances one’s learning in the major.
Without the ability to do an internship, the anonymous student said, students are at a disadvantage compared to their American peers who are able to intern, both in job applications and the major itself.
Both students said they were satisfied with the administration’s response, given the College’s position.
“I genuinely think OISA is one of the most wonderful things on campus, and they have been very, very supportive with us throughout the process,” the anonymous student said.