Washington University in St. Louis: what the school says about CPT
The school's public statement on Curricular Practical Training, in its own words.
“SEVP stated that CPT must be “an integral and required part of an established curriculum” and directed DSOs to authorize CPT only when the practical training is required for all students in the degree program.”
Quoted word for word from oiss.washu.edu. The linked page is the source of record; this page reports what it says and does not characterize it.
Washington University in St. Louis is one of 142 schools whose public response to SEVP's August 2026 CPT guidance the CPT tracker quotes. Its Office for International Students & Scholars posted the statement above.
Background: what changed in August 2026
In August 2026 the Student and Exchange Visitor Program sent two broadcast messages to every Designated School Official: an August 12 reminder of DSOs' personal liability for Curricular Practical Training authorizations (BCM 2608-01), and an August 24 statement of SEVP's reading of an integral part of an established curriculum (BCM 2608-02). The statement above is the school's response.
The two texts the statement sits next to
The regulation (unchanged)
"An F-1 student may be authorized by the DSO to participate in a curricular practical training program that is an integral part of an established curriculum. Curricular practical training is defined to be alternative work/study, internship, cooperative education or any other type of required internship or practicum that is offered by sponsoring employers through cooperative agreements with the school."
8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i). The same paragraph keeps the exception for graduate programs that require immediate participation.
SEVP's reading (guidance, August 24, 2026)
"In any instance where an elective course is optional, making the CPT optional, the integral and required aspects of CPT would not be met. CPT is an integral part of an established curriculum, and the practical training is required for all students participating in that curriculum, regardless of citizenship."
SEVP Broadcast Message 2608-02. By its own terms the message "is not a substitute for applicable legal requirements, nor is it itself a rule or a final action by SEVP."
What students report about Washington University in St. Louis
What students say Washington University in St. Louis told them about CPT, quoted from public Reddit posts. Not verified by the school and not verifiable by this page; shown as reports, apart from the statement above, each with its source, date and link.
| School | What the student reports |
|---|---|
| Washington University in St Louis | Reported on Reddit (r/washu), September 12, 2026 “New federal immigration guidelines on the Curricular Practical Training (CPT) program mean that WashU international students will no longer be able to pursue internships unless they are required to complete their major.” |
If you are a student at Washington University in St. Louis
- Your DSO's answer is the one that counts. The statement above is what the office said publicly; your own DSO decides your case. Ask before you accept an offer that depends on CPT.
- Approved CPT is valid on its terms. The employer, location and dates on page 2 of your I-20 are the authorization. Do not change any of them without a new authorization. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(10)(i)
- On-campus work is untouched. The guidance is about CPT only. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(9)(i)
- The OPT math is unchanged. Twelve months or more of full-time CPT still forfeits post-completion OPT; part-time CPT does not. See CPT that survives scrutiny.
Other schools in Missouri with a public statement
The tracker lists every school with a public statement, 1,595 more schools checked, and what students report. Henry answers CPT questions with the regulation and the broadcast messages cited. Free, no account needed; please leave out student names and ID numbers.
See all 142 schools → Ask Henry about CPT →
How this page is built
A script re-reads Washington University in St. Louis's CPT page every day. When the text changes, it is read in full and the school's words are quoted; a script rejects any quote that does not appear word for word on the school's page. To report a change or a page we missed, use the contact form with the link.