The University of New Hampshire and SNHU, along with dozens of other colleges and universities, are defending a program that has helped attract international students.
The optional practical training work permit program allows international students to temporarily work in the United States after their graduation, and it's being threatened by a federal lawsuit.
A tech workers union in Washington State filed the lawsuit in 2016. The group wants to block recent extensions in time limits for international students working in science and technology fields.
They argue that The Department of Homeland Security exceeded its authority by authorizing non-citizens who are no longer students to work in the U.S.
Nearly 120 colleges and universities around the U.S. have signed onto a court brief supporting the program. They argue that limiting or decreasing it would reduce their ability to recruit international students and significantly harm Higher Education. (See the list of colleges who have signed the brief below.)
