USA Today - The University of Massachusetts on Wednesday backed off its controversial policy banning Iranian nationals from numerous science and engineering programs. The school said in a statement it will instead develop "individualized study plans to meet the requirements of federal sanctions law and address the impact on students." The school said the new policy was developed after consulting with the State Department.
Earlier. . .
Portside - A new decision by the Graduate College University of Massachusetts at Amherst to restrict Iranian students from key graduate programs—including physics, microbiology, and chemistry—is being blasted by civil rights advocates and members of the campus community as a violation of academic freedom, educational equality, and the principle of non-discrimination.
"Of all the people to hurt with sanctions, punishing students and undermining educational exchanges is a particularly damaging act," said Trita Parsi, president of the National Iranian-American Council.
The U Mass Graduate School claimed on February 6th that it has imposed the ban to comply with a sanctions law — the "Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012." The rule allows the Secretary of State to block visas and Department of Homeland Security to deny entry to Iranian nationals seeking to study at a higher educational institution for the purpose of preparing for "a career in the energy sector of Iran or in nuclear science or nuclear engineering or a related field in Iran."
The new ban by the university will bar Iranian nationals from enrolling in a host of programs, including Chemical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Microbiology, and Polymer Science and Engineering.
"In addition," the announcement continues, "all enrolled Iranian national students will be required to acknowledge the restrictions imposed by the 2012 sanctions and certify their compliance in writing."
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