On Sept. 14, 2026, a federal judge in Massachusetts issued a nationwide preliminary injunction indefinitely postponing the effective date of the new U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule intended to establish a fixed time period of admission and an extension of stay procedure that would impact students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas, and other academic restrictions specifically for F-1 students. Northwestern is monitoring this case and any further developments, and we will continue to provide updates as appropriate.
Clarification on January Return to Campus and In-Person Testing
Dear students,
We have received a number of questions about Northwestern’s expectations for in-person testing and returning to campus in January. We appreciate your desire to plan as far in advance as possible.
To reinforce the message we sent yesterday: All graduate and undergraduate students who are registered for in-person classes are required to take one in-person, on-campus COVID-19 test each week of Wildcat Wellness, which runs from Jan. 1 through 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Students who live in the residence halls are welcome to move in as early as Jan. 1. All students taking in-person classes during Winter Quarter must arrive early enough to complete their first-week testing requirement—no later than Friday, Jan. 7. A second in-person, on-campus test is required during the second week of Wildcat Wellness. Students who do not complete these testing requirements will be referred to the Office of Community Standards for non-compliance.
Read the full December 21, 2021 announcement from Luke Figora, Vice President for Operations, Northwestern University.