For many years, institutions that host J-1 Exchange Visitors have been required to report serious situations involving J-1/J-2 exchange visitors to the Department of State. J-1 Exchange Visitors at U-M include both J-1 students and J-1 scholars.
The State Department defines serious situations as incidents that “have or could endanger the health, safety, or welfare of an exchange visitor or otherwise could be expected to bring the Department of State, the Exchange Visitor Program, or the sponsor's exchange visitor program into notoriety or disrepute.” Examples include serious illness, natural disasters, allegations of sexual harassment or misconduct, etc. When the International Center becomes aware of a “reportable incident,” we must report it within one business day.
The Department of State recently added three additional categories of incidents that must be reported:
- Proscribed Antisemitic Actions (e.g., physical actions directed towards Jewish individuals and/or their property, community institutions, or religious facilities that violates the law or university rules)
- Serious Violations of University Conduct Rules: (e.g., participation in a building occupation, participation in an unauthorized encampment, disrupting classes, intimidation, harassment, assault)
- Terrorist Activity, Endorsing or Espousing Terrorism: (e.g., engaging in terrorist activity; membership in a terrorist organization; endorsing or espousing terrorist activity)
July 2, 2025 update: two additional categories of incidents that must be reported have been added:
- Lawsuits or Formal Complaints by an Exchange Visitor Against the Sponsor Alleging Unlawful Affirmative Action (e.g., alleged discrimination in the selection or hiring of exchange visitors based on an unlawful Affirmative Action policy)
- Lawsuits or Formal Complaints by an Exchange Visitor Against the Sponsor Alleging Unlawful DEI Policies (e.g., alleged unlawful discrimination against exchange visitors due to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policies)
These incident reporting requirements – including the five recently added categories of reportable incidents apply only to the J Exchange Visitor Program. U-M’s Exchange Visitors are students, professors, short-term or research scholars or specialists whose DS-2019 forms are issued by the university. These expanded categories and reporting requirements do not apply to U-M international community members in other immigration statuses such as F-1, H-1B, etc.
Last Updated: 07/03/2025