OCTOBER 15, 2025 • VOLUME 96 • ISSUE 7
The official student newspaper of Quinnipiac University since 1929
‘It feels like we are the last group of international students’ TYLER MIGNAULT/CHRONICLE
Quinnipiac international students faced with delays and denials for student visas By AVA HIGHLAND News Editor
Several Quinnipiac University international students faced challenges obtaining their student visas for the 2025-26 school year as a result of pause on student-visa interviews and more indepth checks. The pause lasted from May 27 to June 18, leaving students to have a delay in obtaining their visa and many having to defer to the spring semester, including Quinnipiac students. Other factors contributed to these difficulties as well, causing some to be denied their visa altogether. Overall, Quinnipiac saw around 40 potential graduate students not receive their visas. This has affected international students trying to attend schools across the U.S. For comparison, last year, “more than a million
international students studied in the U.S., contributing about $43 billion into the U.S. economy,” according to NPR. But this year, NPR cited a predicted drop of about “150,000 new international students this fall, leading to a decline of about 15% overall. If that happens, local economies could lose as much as $7 billion in spending and more than 60,000 jobs.” THE PROCESS After a student is accepted into the university, they are required to provide documents to the international admissions team in order to process the I-20 immigration document — this includes their passport and proof of funding. “With the I-20 in hand, they begin the F-1 visa application process by paying the SEVIS I-901 fee and completing the DS-160, the on-
line nonimmigrant visa application,” Director of International Students and Scholars Sarah Driscoll wrote in an email to The Chronicle. Students end up paying over $400 in fees. “Students pay the $350 SEVIS fee, fill out and submit the DS-160 form online, pay the $180 visa fee,” first-year master’s in informatics-health track graduate student Hellen Mwangi wrote. They then move on to scheduling an interview at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. The interview results in one of three different colored slips, each with a different outcome — blue (visa approved), pink (visa denied) or yellow (administrative processing required before visa approval). “At the interview, they present various documents to the consular officer and answer questions about their academic plans, ties to
their home country, and how they intend to fund their education,” Driscoll wrote. “The interview is typically three minutes or less. If approved, their passport is returned with the F-1 visa stamp, allowing them to travel to the U.S. to attend QU.” VISA CHALLENGES Visa-related challenges are not new. “Visas can be denied for a variety of reasons, but some of the most common issues are if the applicant doesn’t clearly demonstrate they intend to return home after their studies, inadequate financial support, prior visa violations or concerns raised during background checks. Students that were denied do have the ability to apply for a visa again, and we have certainly had students be approved on their See VISAS Page 2
Recycling on campus trades efficiency for convenience By VIVIAN GAGE Copy Editor
Recycling at Quinnipiac University is not as efficient as some would hope due to the university’s use of single-stream recycling. In 2012, Quinnipiac, along with Yale University, transitioned to single-stream recycling, leaving multi-stream recycling behind. Singlestream recycling means that all recyclable materials go in one bin rather than being separated into multiple bins, like a paper bin and a plastic bin, for example. Workers separate the materials once they reach a material recovery facility
with a combination of mechanical and manual sorting methods. “Single-stream recycling has made us more successful by making recycling more convenient and accessible,” Keith Woodward, associate vice president for facilities operations, wrote in a statement to The Chronicle. Woodward says that participation rates in recycling have increased because students and faculty no longer need to sort materials themselves, simplifying recycling in residence halls, offices and public spaces. “There are obviously some operational ef-
ficiencies; Fewer collection trucks and bins are needed, lowering transportation and labor costs and (allowing) custodial or facilities staff to collect recyclables quicker,” he said. Quinnipiac partners with All American Waste to collect the university’s recyclables. Our recycling material is brought to their Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Berlin, Connecticut, where it goes through an automated separation process. “On paper, it’s a great concept. It makes it easy for anyone to recycle,” said Students for Environmental Action Event Coordinator Timothy Hine, a senior environmental studies and bi-
ology co-major. “But the problem is that you have so many different things going into one container. It’s just bound to lead to contamination between all sorts of different products…it’s just not particularly profitable,” Hine said. Quinnipiac is not unique, as a majority of recycling programs in the U.S. are now singlestream. According to a survey conducted by the American Forest and Paper Association, beSee RECYCLING Page 2