Resource Guide
Berklee is committed to supporting our global community during this challenging time and ensuring our campuses remain as safe as possible. The diversity of our community is foundational to Berklee’s identity, mission, and values. And with students, faculty, and staff hailing from more than 100 countries, it’s also what makes Berklee an inspiring place to learn, teach, work, and create.
To help support our community, we've put together this resource guide to connect you with travel guidance, information about knowing your rights, tips for staying informed, and more. As the guidance evolves, we will continue to update this page.
We know many community members are looking for ways to help our international community; one of the most effective ways for you to help is to get familiar with these resources so you can connect international students, faculty, and staff with the services and information they need.
If you are concerned or overwhelmed, we encourage you to seek our support services for students, faculty, and staff.
Visas, Immigration, and Travel
Get Support and Guidance
- International students: Connect with your ISS advisor
- Faculty and staff:
- Connect with your HR partner
- Support for immigration issues(Opens in a new window) (for faculty and staff; access through KGA)
Get Informed and Know Your Rights
Know Your Rights Resources:
- Know Your Rights(Opens in a new window) (ACLU)
- Know Your Rights(Opens in a new window) (MIRA Coalition)
- Know Your Rights(Opens in a new window) (City of Cambridge Coalition on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship)
Additional Guidance for International Students:
Protecting Student Information and Immigration Status
All personally identifiable information contained in student records are protected by various laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA requires a lawfully issued subpoena in order for Berklee to share any personally identifiable information about a student. All subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants are reviewed and responded to by our Office of General Counsel.
Connect with an Immigration Lawyer
International Student Services will connect impacted students with relevant resources as needed. Please reach out to your ISS advisor if you have any questions.
Review Travel Guidance
- Berklee’s travel policy
- Guidance about international travel for international faculty and staff and for international students
- Electronic Device Searches at U.S. Ports of Entry: What You Need to Know (PDF from AILA)
Berklee Policies and Protocols
Get Support
Berklee offers a variety of options for students, faculty, and staff to ensure that you get the support you need. Learn about counseling resources and other support.
Public Safety offers the following services on the Boston campus:
- Safety escorts
- RAVE Guardian app
- Campus map of emergency resources (AEDs, Emergency Phones, and Fire Alarm Boxes)
- Public Safety and Berklee Police Department contact information
Stay in the Know
Berklee Updates and Resources
Berklee will continue to share information and updates that directly impact our community, as well as resources and upcoming events, through the Berklee Hub and email. International Student Services will share information with international students via email.
You can view all upcoming events on Berklee’s calendar.
Staying Informed About the News
We encourage you to follow external news sources to learn about what’s going on in the world.
As you seek news sources and read the news, familiarize yourself with Berklee’s News Media Literacy Guide to learn how to identify bias and how to determine if information is factual and trustworthy. Snopes(Opens in a new window) is also a helpful resource for fact-checking news stories.
For news about higher education:
For general news:
In addition to traditional news sources like The New York Times or BBC, you may consider using a source like Ground News(Opens in a new window) or Allsides(Opens in a new window), which provide built-in bias-checkers.
Faculty and Staff: Supporting Our Students
How to Support Students
- Counseling resources for students
- Connecting students with their Berklee Bridge team
- Appointments and drop-ins for students with International Student Services
Academic Completion Plans and Support for Impacted Students
International Student Services is monitoring the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) to identify and notify any students whose status has changed, and then collaborates with key members of the Student Success Division and Academic Affairs to ensure that impacted students receive the holistic support they need. This support includes academic planning, case management, counseling, and more.
Updates
Have a question, but not sure who to contact?
- Students: Contact International Student Services
- Faculty and staff: Contact your HR partner