Purdue University is facing growing criticism over reports that it has told graduate admissions committees to stop admitting students from China and several other countries described as "dangerous" or "adversary nations."
The alleged directive has raised alarms among students, faculty, and civil rights advocates, who say it amounts to discrimination against international applicants based on nationality and perceived security risks.
Purdue University Facing Widespread Backlash
According to multiple reports from campus and higher education outlets, Purdue administrators recently informed departments that it would be "highly unlikely" for graduate applicants from a list of countries to be admitted for upcoming terms, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Faculty and graduate organizers say that list includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela, mirroring a group of nations the U.S. government has labeled foreign adversaries in national security and export control policies. One graduate worker leader told reporters the instructions were delivered verbally rather than in writing, reportedly to reduce the chance of creating a paper trail.
Chinese graduate students and prospective students say they have already felt the impact of the alleged policy. At least one Chinese applicant told Inside Higher Ed he received a last‑minute rejection after previously being accepted, moving to West Lafayette, and signing a lease in preparation for starting his program, JC Online reported.
Student organizers claim that dozens, and possibly more than 100, Chinese applicants have been turned away or had offers reversed in recent cycles, though Purdue has not confirmed specific numbers.
Purdue has declined to directly address the detailed allegations, instead issuing general statements about competitive admissions and the need to comply with federal law and national security requirements. The controversy comes as the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has been investigating Purdue and several other research universities over the presence and research activities of Chinese nationals on their campuses.
Rejecting Students Based on Origin Country
Advocates at Purdue argue that federal scrutiny has encouraged the university to go further than what government reports formally recommend, creating what they describe as an "extralegal" ban that conflicts with Purdue's own nondiscrimination policies.
Critics on and off campus warn that the reported shift could damage Purdue's global reputation and undermine its ability to recruit top researchers, particularly in STEM fields where international students make up a large share of the talent pool, as per WFYI.
They also say the move fits into a broader pattern of heightened suspicion and restrictions targeting Chinese students and scholars in the United States over the past decade, including previous federal initiatives framed around countering espionage. As of now, Purdue has not announced any formal change to its written admissions rules, leaving current and prospective international students uncertain about their chances of being admitted.
Purdue University is facing growing criticism over reports that it has told graduate admissions committees to stop admitting students from China and several other countries described as "dangerous" or "adversary nations."
The alleged directive has raised alarms among students, faculty, and civil rights advocates, who say it amounts to discrimination against international applicants based on nationality and perceived security risks.
According to multiple reports from campus and higher education outlets, Purdue administrators recently informed departments that it would be "highly unlikely" for graduate applicants from a list of countries to be admitted for upcoming terms, according to Inside Higher Ed.
Faculty and graduate organizers say that list includes China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Venezuela, mirroring a group of nations the U.S. government has labeled foreign adversaries in national security and export control policies. One graduate worker leader told reporters the instructions were delivered verbally rather than in writing, reportedly to reduce the chance of creating a paper trail.
Chinese graduate students and prospective students say they have already felt the impact of the alleged policy. At least one Chinese applicant told Inside Higher Ed he received a last‑minute rejection after previously being accepted, moving to West Lafayette, and signing a lease in preparation for starting his program, JC Online reported.
Student organizers claim that dozens, and possibly more than 100, Chinese applicants have been turned away or had offers reversed in recent cycles, though Purdue has not confirmed specific numbers.
Purdue has declined to directly address the detailed allegations, instead issuing general statements about competitive admissions and the need to comply with federal law and national security requirements. The controversy comes as the U.S. House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has been investigating Purdue and several other research universities over the presence and research activities of Chinese nationals on their campuses.
Advocates at Purdue argue that federal scrutiny has encouraged the university to go further than what government reports formally recommend, creating what they describe as an "extralegal" ban that conflicts with Purdue's own nondiscrimination policies.
Critics on and off campus warn that the reported shift could damage Purdue's global reputation and undermine its ability to recruit top researchers, particularly in STEM fields where international students make up a large share of the talent pool, as per WFYI.
They also say the move fits into a broader pattern of heightened suspicion and restrictions targeting Chinese students and scholars in the United States over the past decade, including previous federal initiatives framed around countering espionage. As of now, Purdue has not announced any formal change to its written admissions rules, leaving current and prospective international students uncertain about their chances of being admitted.
