UMass reverses policy on Iranian students
Source: Boston Globe
AMHERST The University of Massachusetts Amherst on Wednesday backed away from its policy barring Iranians from graduate engineering programs, just days after its aggressive new response to US sanctions sparked a groundswell of protests from students and faculty.
After consulting with the US State Department, UMass officials said Iranian nationals can enroll in chemical, computer, and mechanical engineering studies as long as their planned studies do not run afoul of federal sanctions intended to curb Irans nuclear ambitions.
If . . . they are qualified students, we are more than happy to have them come here, said Michael Malone, vice chancellor for research and engagement. Were trying to find a way forward through a fairly complicated landscape.
Students at the states flagship campus who had protested the initial decision when it was announced to students on Feb. 12 said they welcomed the shift with some reservations.
Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/02/18/umass-reverses-policy-barring-iranians-from-graduate-programs/kVXuNqRHzVM7R168oJ4PjP/story.html