University reverses Iranian admissions ban

Inside Higher Ed 27 February 2015

The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has reversed a controversial new policy that would have barred Iranian students from certain science and engineering programmes, the institution announced recently. The move followed consultations with the US State Department and outside counsel, writes Elizabeth Redden for Inside Higher Ed.

In initially announcing that it would not admit Iranian students into seven different science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, related programmes, UMass Amherst cited its obligations under a 2012 federal law that restricts Iranian nationals who are seeking to prepare for a career in that country’s energy or nuclear science sectors from getting a visa to study in the US.

Following an intense backlash, university officials now say that rather than restrict Iranian students from enrolling, they will develop "individualised study plans” that ensure that these students' courses and research endeavours comply with requirements imposed by the sanctions.
Full report on the Inside Higher Ed site

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