April 24, 2025 by The Daily Pennsylvanian

INSIDE: PENN RELAYS

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA • FOUNDED 1885

PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2025

VOL. CXLI

NO. 14

Penn updates guidance for international students amid ongoing visa revocations On April 21, Penn updated its ‘SEVIS Termination FAQ’ website to address additional topics including public safety, academics, and housing for individuals who have been affected by visa revocations and immigration status terminations FINN RYAN Senior Reporter

Amid ongoing visa revocations, Penn updated its guidance for international students on Monday, adding additional information for individuals whose immigration statuses have changed through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. The Daily Pennsylvanian previously reported that eight Penn affiliates had either their visa revoked or immigration status terminated by the Department of State. Of the eight affiliates, seven had their SEVIS statuses terminated — including one undergraduate student, five graduate students, and one alumnus on a sponsored visa — according to a University spokesperson. One additional Penn affiliate had their visa revoked. On April 21, Penn updated its “SEVIS Termination FAQ” website to address additional topics including public safety, academics, and housing for individuals who have been impacted by SEVIS terminations. The page — which was first launched by Penn’s International Student and Scholar Services on April 6 — states that a SEVIS revocation indicates that an individual’s “F-1 or J-1 immigration record is no longer active.” “A terminated SEVIS record means you are out See ISSS, page 3

JEAN PARK | MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Jameson cites institutional neutrality as reason for Penn’s limited response to federal attacks Other schools across the Ivy League also have institutional neutrality policies, yet some have taken markedly different public stances in criticizing the Trump administration AYANA CHARI, CHRISTINE OH, AND ANVI SEHGAL Staff Reporters

During an April 17 interview with The Daily Pennsylvanian, Penn President Larry Jameson cited the University’s institutional neutrality policy — which applies to local and global events that do not directly impact Penn — to explain the University’s relatively quiet stance amid federal attacks on higher education. Across the Ivy League, many of Penn’s seven peer institutions also have policies of institutional neutrality, yet some have taken markedly different public stances in criticizing the administration under 1968 Wharton

graduate and President Donald Trump. The DP compared Penn’s response — and Jameson’s rationale for it — to the other Ivy League universities’ institutional neutrality policies and actions. A request for comment was left with a Penn spokesperson. Penn’s policy — introduced in September 2024 — states that the University will “refrain from institutional statements … except for those which have direct and significant bearing on University functions.”

Penn community members have expressed support for the policy, which was designed to restrict commentary on controversial issues that do not directly relate to the University. “We created a position probably a year ago of institutional restraint with our messaging,” Jameson told the DP. “The point of that which we articulate … is largely so that the institutional voice was not speaking out on See JAMESON, page 5

Jameson announces winners of Penn spent $250,000 lobbying federal government in first quarter of 2025 President’s Engagement and Innovation Prizes 2025, most in 25 years Penn lobbied the federal government on issues including National Institutes of Health funding, research, and graduate medical education

All prize recipients collaborate with a Penn faculty mentor, and the projects receive up to $100,000 as well as a $50,000 living stipend for each team member

ISHA CHITIRALA Senior Reporter

JOSÉ CARLOS SERRANO Contributing Reporter

As the Trump administration continues to escalate its attacks on universities across the country, Penn spent $250,000 lobbying the federal government in the first fiscal quarter of 2025 — the most money the University has spent lobbying the government in a single quarter since 1999. According to a recently filed disclosure, Penn lobbied the federal government on multiple issues including National Institutes of Health funding, research, graduate medical education, and general matters pertaining to higher education and international students. The record expenditure from Penn comes as the University has continued to increase its spending on lobbying — totaling $640,000 in 2024. Penn listed Associate Vice President of Federal Affairs William Andresen and Penn Medicine Corporate Director for Government and Community Relations Kristen Molloy as individuals who lobbied on behalf of the University in its lobbying report. A request for comment was left with a University spokesperson. The quarter — from Jan. 1 to March 31 — spanned a tumultuous time for the University, which has been targeted by the Trump administration from multiple angles. In February, the NIH issued a directive capping “indirect costs” — which fund overhead expenses like lab spaces and support staff — at 15%. In a message to the Penn community at the time, then-Interim Penn President Larry

Jameson wrote that the institution could lose up to $240 million as a result of the cuts. In response, Penn, along with 12 other universities, filed a lawsuit. In an affidavit submitted with the suit, Senior Associate Vice Provost and Senior Associate Vice President for Research Elizabeth Peloso described Penn as one of the nation’s “top” research universities, stating that “vital research at Penn is made possible by funding provided by the NIH.” Following the NIH cuts, Penn notified graduate departments to reduce admissions at several schools, including the School of Arts and Sciences and the Perelman School of Medicine. In a February email, Interim SAS Dean Jeffrey Kallberg attributed the decision to cut admissions as a “necessary cost-saving measure” in response to potential NIH cuts. According to the federal lobbying report, Penn also focused lobbying efforts on “international students.” At the time of publication, eight Penn affiliates have been affected by ongoing visa revocations and immigration status terminations at the hands of the Trump administration. Of the eight affiliates, seven had their SEVIS status terminated — including one undergraduate student, five graduate students, and one alumnus on a sponsored visa — according to a University spokesperson. One additional Penn affiliate had their visa revoked. See LOBBYING, page 2

PHOTO FROM PENN TODAY

Jameson announced the winners of the prizes on April 17. Penn President Larry Jameson announced the up to $100,000 as well as a $50,000 living stipend winners of the 2025 President’s Engagement and for each team member. Innovation Prizes, awarding funding for projects “There is a lot of process behind this to select designed to create positive social change. these amazing winners,” Jameson told The Daily Established by former Penn President Amy Gut- Pennsylvanian in an April 17 interview. “I am mann in 2015, the prizes are awarded annually to in total awe as I meet … the incredibly talented Penn seniors who will undertake post-graduation people. All of these efforts are intended to spark projects that aim to make a “positive, lasting differ- creativity, teamwork, and collaboration.” ence in the world.” All prize recipients collaborate See PRIZES, page 3 with a Penn faculty mentor, and the projects receive

IJK:?E" ' 7D: ( 8;:HEEC 7F7HJC;DJI 7L7?B78B;

Fb[Wi[ YedjWYj ki \eh Z[jW_bi WdZ je iY^[Zkb[ W jekh *((* 8Wbj_ceh[ 7l[$ r .))#)(,#&(*& r ^[bbe6j^[b_dZ[d$b_\[ SEND STORY IDEAS TO NEWSTIP@THEDP.COM

ONLINE AT THEDP.COM