Friends and classmates of Andreia Barcellos, there is an urgent and very time sensitive issue that needs your attention. Andreia is being put in a huge dilemma at the hand of our university that has built a reputation of standing for social justice and equality. 

In August, Andreia accepted an amazing offer to stay in Kuala Lumpur and intern with UNHCR. She made her decision after being promised by different people and departments at AU that there would be no negative impact on her enrollment or student visa status. After exhaustive communication over email and skype with different AU departments, Andreia was ensured that by enrolling in a continuing enrollment course, SISG-777, she would avoid any ramifications on her visa. Now, 3/4 of the way through the semester she received an email saying her continuing enrollment credit is being dropped due to a "reevaluation". Not only will this result in the loss of her student visa to the United States, but it will also prevent her from working in the US for a full year after being issued a new visa--a requirement that she was due to fulfill in May. Because of the poor communication and lack of transparency by AU, Andreia has a chance to miss the window to reapply for a student visa to begin course work at AU in the Spring. When all is considered, the dropped class, the loss of her student visa, the possibility of missing window for a visa that will allow her to return in the Spring, and finally the inability to work in the US for a full year after reapplying for a new visa is the result of an irresponsible, and unprofessional decision made by AU.

This is not only unfair, it is also unethical. 

After writing to the IPCR program director, the Provost office wrote her to say they won't change their mind. 

AU should be held accountable, since it is an AU decision. This is completely unprofessional and goes against the standards that the university holds so proudly. 

Please rally behind Andreia with me and hold the administration accountable by signing this petition. A letter will be delivered voicing our support for Andreia this week and urging the administration to reconsider their decision to drop Andreia's class. By simply allowing her to remain in SISG-777, the University will prevent the snowball of ramifications that will impact Andreia's future plans for study and employment.