A strike at Portland Community College could put classes in limbo. For International students, that could mean transferring schools or leaving the country. by Anna Del Savio Thousands of students at Portland Community College are in limbo, with winter classes unfinished and spring classes on hold. Graduation dates, income from on-campus jobs, and financial aid are at risk as faculty and academic professionals begin their third week on strike for higher wages. For international students, there’s another threat: having to leave their lives in the U.S. International students rely on classes to stay in the United States legally. If they don’t maintain full-time student status—complying with heavy restrictions on vacation terms, remote classes, employment opportunities, and college transfers—they’ll lose the F-1 visas that allow them to study in the United States. If the strike continues, with no classes taking place, international students could be forced to transfer colleges or leave the country. Caren Luteli, a mechanical engineering student from Tanzania, expected to complete her associate degree at PCC this spring and then enroll at a four-year university. But with PCC faculty and staff still on strike, her plans are in jeopardy. “Right now, while I'm weighing my options, I don't even see that many options around me,” Luteli said. PCC has to report the status of all international students to the federal government each term. By April 22, most students will have to be taking a full-time course load or accepted as a transfer student at another school. Otherwise, they will have to leave the country within 15 days or face deportation.  The college has advised international students to start the process to transfer to another school.  Some students are waiting, hoping the strike won’t drag on four more weeks. But the options available to each student depend on how long they’ve been enrolled at PCC, if other colleges offer their program, and even what country they call home. Some students will be in violation of their visas if they aren’t in class by April 22, meaning they have to complete the transfer process and enroll in classes at another college for the spring term, which starts at the end of March, or risk deportation if the strike continues. Stephanie Njenga, an international student from Kenya, said she’d already paid her spring tuition to PCC and wasn’t sure how she could afford to transfer. Luteli, who lives in Beaverton with her aunt and relies on public transportation, said other community colleges would take hours to get to on public transit. To get a new school to sponsor their student visa, international students have to prove they have funds available to pay for the entire school year—something most students aren’t ready to do on short notice.  Students could also temporarily return to their home country. But Tanzanians and citizens of 38 other countries are blocked from getting most U.S. visas under a Trump administration order expanded in January. That means Luteli likely wouldn’t be able to come back to the states.  The strike started March 11 and continued past the end of the winter term on March 22 and into the week-long break between terms. PCC and the Federation of Classified Employees (FCE), reached tentative agreement on a new contract March 25, with no cost of living raises in the first year but a 5 percent raise next year. As of press time, PCC and the Federation of Faculty and Academic Professionals (FFAP) had not reached an agreement.  Rianna Robertson-LeVay, a striking academic professional who works in PCC’s Office of International Student Services, said she felt conflicted about going on strike given the high stakes for international students.  “There’s so many hoops that they have to jump through—enough as it is,” Robertson-LeVay said, referring to the complex and ever-changing requirements for students to receive and maintain their visas. “I understand why the unions are still striking, but I just don’t know… if there are going to be international students at PCC if it goes on much longer.” If the strike ends before April 22, students who were planning to start classes at a new college in the summer term could cancel those plans and remain at PCC. But Robertson-LeVay said she expects some students won’t want to reverse course after the ordeal, meaning international student enrollment at PCC will drop. PCC has about 350 international students, which is already a 50 percent decrease from 10 years ago. International students pay more than double the tuition rate paid by Oregon residents. Before going out on strike, Robertson-LeVay notified international students of the impending work stoppage and how they could prepare. Some PCC community members interpreted that communication as PCC administrators frightening students rather than focusing on averting a strike. PCC board member Kien Truong shared a similar sentiment in a public statement but apologized after Robertson-LeVay said she—not an administrator—emailed students before the strike began. “I could not go on strike with a clear conscience without communicating these options,” Robertson-LeVay wrote. She said she didn’t want to needlessly worry students, but needed to give them information with enough time to make decisions and get paperwork processed. Njenga said she wasn’t too concerned about her status ahead of the strike, thinking it wouldn’t last long. “As time goes by, I become more concerned, because what are they thinking? Are they not thinking about us? As time goes by, you start having doubts about the administration,” Njenga said. Luteli felt the same way. “There's no way that administration would let the strike go on for four weeks. That would be crazy of them. Just to, what, to save money while they're also hoarding money?” Luteli thought when the strike began. Luteli, a member of the student senate, said PCC “brought out the advocacy” in her. “But now, seeing that this place—that really brought out the side of me that actually cares about the community I live in—is also ruining the same community which I just got used to staying in. It's really saddening, to say the least,” Luteli said. ...read more read less