University Senate members discussed faculty H-1B visas and a Title VI Office task force in their Monday meeting.

H-1B visas

The White House issued a proclamation restricting entry into the United States for workers with H-1B status three weeks ago. One requirement is that new applications for an H1-B visa require the potential employer to pay a $100,000 fee. 

Despite this, John Coleman, provost and executive vice chancellor for academic affairs, said the University’s goal is to still recruit the best faculty possible.

“Our goal, as always, will be to recruit and hire the brightest minds in the world to drive our missions of academic excellence and innovation to benefit our state and our entire nation,” Coleman said.

According to Coleman, the University employs about 500 H1-B visa holders, and it typically hires 100-200 faculty that require H1-B visas in any given year. These new updates could cost the University $10 million to $20 million each year — without consideration for current visa holders. 

Coleman named three groups the proclamation could affect: new hires, current faculty and international students.

Indranil Gupta, senator and professor in Engineering, expressed his concern for international students hoping to secure H1-B visas and join the U.S. workforce after their studies.

“Immigrants are the lifeblood of our nation,” Gupta said, to which Coleman agreed before detailing potential effects from the proclamation.

“If it appears that that lifeline is being made much more difficult, then it certainly creates the distinct possibility that we will see a reduced applicant flow to the University,” Coleman said. 

Coleman said there are national implications that would have “absolutely devastating effects” on the country’s research industries. 

To conclude the discussion, Coleman described the implications as “deeply concerning.”

Title VI task force

Last semester, the University established a Title VI Office with the goal of ensuring its campus is free from all forms of discrimination. 

Title VI is a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and it prohibits all discrimination based on race, color or national origin in federally financed programs. 

Coleman announced the appointment of a task force consisting of administrators, faculty and Senate representatives to provide feedback and recommendations on the Title VI Office’s practices. 

“Title VI compliance is something that we must do, not just because it’s the law, but it is the right thing,” Coleman said.

According to Coleman, the University must be cautious while implementing Title VI measures so as not to restrict free speech or academic freedom. 

Kathryn Clancy, senator and professor in LAS, questioned whether the office would consider who was responsible for a complaint. The report link is accessible through the office’s website and is open to everybody, and according to Clancy, some faculty faced Title VI complaints from students outside of their class. 

However, Coleman said that the reports are viewed the same way regardless of who submitted them.

“My sense of it is that every complaint is treated as a complaint,” Coleman said. 

Coleman agreed with Clancy’s point that the current system poses a potential issue.

“I mean, we have complaints coming from people halfway across the country,” Coleman said. “They’re not necessarily treated differently depending on who they come from, which is potentially an issue.”

Coleman requested that anybody with suggestions reach out to him. 

Up next

The next Senate Executive Committee meeting is Sunday, and the next Senate meeting is Nov. 10.

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