After the Trump administration placed new restrictions on Curricular Practical Training (CPT), a program that has historically allowed F-1 international students to work off campus, some international students have had to turn down jobs, while others expressed uncertainty about future opportunities.
In August, ICE sent a memo to colleges and universities directing them to issue CPT only when an internship or practical training experience is necessary for graduation, a stricter interpretation of the existing policy. The memo states that “improper CPT authorization” could result in “administrative or legal consequences,” such as a college losing its ability to enroll international students.
Tag: Pomona College
Ruth Ozeki: Writing as play and spiritual practice
On Sept. 29 at Rose Hills Theatre, the renowned author sat down with Northwestern University professor Michelle Huang to discuss Buddhism, reinvention and her creative process — from “My Year of Meats” to her new short-story collection, “The Typing Lady.”
Milk & Honey makes a sweet comeback
Milk & Honey reopened on Tuesday, Oct 6. Pomona Dining Services previously shut down the student-run boba shop on Sept. 10, sparking student outcry and renewed debate over Dining Services’ decisionmaking and labor practices.
Speaking of change: Oldenborg’s demolition reshapes 5C multilingual community
Following the demolition of the Oldenborg Center for Modern Languages and International Relations over the summer, Pomona College relocated its language and residential programming across campus while construction began on the new Center for Global Engagement (CGE). Students and Language Residents said the move changed the close-knit residential community and informal interactions that developed when language housing, dining and language operated in the same building.
COVID-19 is back on campus, at a lower rate than last year
While the 5Cs continue to grapple with COVID-19, positive COVID test rates administered by Student Health Services (SHS) are lower this year than last.
Since the start of the academic year, SHS reported 15 positive COVID results out of 100 students tested through Sept. 25, meaning a 15% positivity rate. Last year, the positivity rate across a similar time period was 19%, meaning a four percentage point decrease.
Still, SHS warns that the figures do not represent all COVID infections across the Claremont Colleges, as many community members self-test with campus resources. “Students who are ill are encouraged to stay home when they have a fever, mask when appropriate, test when symptomatic, and contact SHS with questions or if symptoms worsen,” SHS stated.
ACLU, Amnesty International report on repression cites Pomona, Pitzer, Scripps; Pomona disputes claims
Pomona, Pitzer and Scripps Colleges were mentioned in a Sept. 23 report by Amnesty International USA and the American Civil Liberties Union addressing suppression of “pro-Palestine speech and dissent” across college campuses nationwide. In a statement to TSL, a Pomona spokesperson wrote that the report “makes serious errors, unsupported by the source material.”
Jose Martinez leaves Pomona College Dining management amid Dining Services controversies
Pomona College’s former Dining Services General Manager Jose Martinez is no longer employed by Pomona College, as a college spokesperson confirmed in an email statement to TSL. The circumstances surrounding Martinez’s departure, which follows student opposition to the previously planned closure of Milk & Honey, remain unclear.
Pomona, CMC and Harvey Mudd top U.S. News & World Report’s liberal arts college rankings
In the new U.S. News & World Report’s 2027 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges ranking, Claremont McKenna College (CMC) and Pomona College tied for third place, an increase from their joint seventh place spot last year. Harvey Mudd College also made its way into the top 10, ranking eighth. The publication considered “earnings by major” for the first time this year, a shift that placed greater emphasis on measurable post-graduate outcomes.
Pomona and UNITE HERE begin negotiations for a new contract amid ULP filing, delegation
Pomona College and UNITE HERE Local 11, the union representing the college’s dining service employees, began negotiations on Sept. 8 for a new collective bargaining agreement.
Elias Pluecker PO ’28, student organizer for UNITE HERE and a member of the Pomona chapter of the Claremont Student Worker Alliance (CSWA) and, said that many employees are struggling to make ends meet and often commute from far away, unable to afford living closer to the college.
Pomona tests Boodlebox AI in classroom, establishes AI committee
This semester, Pomona College is navigating a rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. The college is currently deciding whether to implement BoodleBox AI, a collaborative platform built for higher education, and has also formed a committee to address AI’s role in students’ and faculty members’ lives. According to BoodleBox’s website, the