{"id":9792,"date":"2026-08-28T14:34:05","date_gmt":"2026-08-28T18:34:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/office-global-engagement\/?p=9792"},"modified":"2026-08-28T14:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-08-28T18:34:05","slug":"changes-to-curricular-practical-training","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/office-global-engagement\/changes-to-curricular-practical-training\/","title":{"rendered":"Changes to Curricular Practical Training"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\"><span data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">University of Rochester International Students,<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">We are writing to share an important update regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for students in F-1 status.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) recently issued new guidance regarding CPT eligibility. The guidance reflects a change in the federal government\u2019s interpretation of the regulations governing CPT and establishes a more restrictive standard for when universities may authorize\u00a0curricular\u00a0practical training.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Under this new interpretation, CPT may only be authorized when practical training is required for all students enrolled in a program to earn the degree. As a result, internships, practica, clinical experiences, or other forms of practical training that are optional, including those associated with elective internship courses, no longer qualify for CPT authorization.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">The University\u2019s Office for Global Engagement is carefully reviewing this guidance and working with University leadership and academic programs to assess its implications for our students and degree programs.\u00a0\u00a0We recognize that this development comes at a particularly challenging time as the fall semester begins, and many students have already made plans related to internships and other practical training opportunities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">While this\u00a0review is underway, the International Services Office (ISO) is pausing approval of new CPT applications, except\u00a0for\u00a0CPT requests associated with practical training that is required for completion of a degree program. Students whose practical training is a required component of their curriculum may continue to submit CPT requests and work with ISO and their academic program regarding documentation requirements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">If you have CPT planned for the Fall 2026\u00a0semester:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>If your CPT has already been approved, you may continue to proceed under the terms of that authorization unless ISO contacts you with different guidance.<\/li>\n<li>If you have a fall internship or practical training experience planned but have not yet received CPT authorization, please be aware that ISO will not be able to authorize your CPT while the pause is in place unless your CPT is confirmed to be a degree requirement. If your practical training experience is required to complete your degree program, please continue working with ISO and your academic department. Additional documentation may be needed to verify that practical training is a required component of the established curriculum.<\/li>\n<li>If you are unsure whether this guidance affects your situation, please contact ISO before beginning or making changes to any off-campus employment or training.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">We understand that students may have questions about how this change by the federal government affects academic requirements, commitments to employers, and plans already made for the upcoming academic year. ISO will continue to evaluate the guidance and will communicate additional information as soon as it becomes available.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Please remember that CPT authorization is specific to the employer, position, location, and period for which it is granted. Students should not begin off-campus employment or practical training requiring CPT authorization until they have received approval from ISO.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">We appreciate your patience as we work through this significant change in federal guidance. Our priority is to provide accurate information, help students maintain their immigration status, and identify available options as we learn more about the implementation of these new requirements.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Sincerely,<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_MsoNormal\">Reitumetse Mabokela<br \/>\nVice Provost for Global\u00a0Engagement<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>University of Rochester International Students, We are writing to share an important update regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for students in F-1 status. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Student&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":82,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_members_access_role":[],"_members_access_error":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[202,162,192],"class_list":["post-9792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-iso","tag-oge","tag-urochesterglobal"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Changes to Curricular Practical Training - Office for Global Engagement<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rochester.edu\/office-global-engagement\/changes-to-curricular-practical-training\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Changes to Curricular Practical Training - Office for Global Engagement\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"University of Rochester International Students, We are writing to share an important update regarding Curricular Practical Training (CPT) for students in F-1 status. 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