Colleges report that 2025’s disruptions—visa appointment backlogs, OPT threats, SEVIS revocations and guidance uncertainty—created severe complications for international students and campus programs. Institutions are now planning operational and policy changes to limit future damage and stabilize international enrollment flows in 2026. University international offices say delays at consulates and new federal vetting practices forced students to defer, scramble for appointments, or transfer. Career offices and employers also faced challenges hiring international graduates under shifting OPT rules. Administrators are exploring expanded remote options, targeted recruitment timelines, and enhanced on‑campus support to reduce vulnerability to external visa shocks. Colleges with large international populations expect continued volatility in enrollments and budgeting; many will increase legal and compliance capacity to monitor Department of Homeland Security guidance and court actions. For institutions dependent on international tuition and graduate research labor, administrative redesigns this year aim to make international student services more resilient to federal policy swings and service disruptions abroad.