University of Northern Virginia asked to shut down, Indian students stranded

The University of Northern Virginia has been ordered to shut down with immediate effect, leaving a large number of Indian students stranded and jeopardising their academic career.

The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, in an order dated July 16, which was made public last week, said that the University of Northern Virginia, which calls itself the most popular American university for students from India, "must cease operations immediately" as a post-secondary institution.

Given that the University of Northern Virginia has a significantly large number of foreign students, mostly from India, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia has asked these students with F-1 visas to approach the Department of Homeland Security with issues related to immigration and optional practical training.

The now closed university has been asked to provide information regarding students' academic and financial records.

UNV was raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement in July 2011.

At that time, the university had more than 2,000 students, majority of them being Indians.

At the time of the university being ordered to shut down last week, there were nearly 500 students enrolled in various courses, with a significant number of them from India.