He said the international students and scholars are "vital" to the university and that openness-a key to the extraordinary success of America's great research universities-"must remain a hallmark of Yale".

Salovey also wrote that he is working with presidents of other universities in the Association of American Universities "to urge federal agencies to clarify concerns they have about international academic exchanges".

In March, University of Michigan President Mark Schlissel and Stanford University President Marc Tessier-Lavigne both made statements supporting international scholars and students, including those from China, on their campuses.

At the University of California, Berkeley, the nearly 2,500 students from China are by far the largest group of international students.

"Berkeley is a university which values diversity in the broadest sense and every form. We believe that having a global student population is a foundational element of our institutional character and academic mission," Dan Mogulof, assistant vice-chancellor of the Office of Communications and Public Affairs at UC Berkeley, told China Daily in an email.

"So, in that context we will continue to ensure that every student on this campus, regardless of their country of origin, feels safe, respected and welcome," he said.

Despite "any particular issue going on in the world", University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer said the university will continue its commitment to academic exchange.

He has recently come back from a two-day visit to Wuhan University in Central China's Hubei province. During the visit, the two universities renewed their agreements on pursuing academic and cultural collaboration and exchange.

According to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two universities, the pair will explore the potential for activities such as the exchange of students and faculty members, joint research in areas of mutual academic interest, as well as sharing of research, academic curricula and other information.

"Given recent developments impacting US-China relations, along with questions about the nature of interactions between scholars in the US and other countries, I write to reaffirm the University's unwavering commitment to welcoming and supporting people of all backgrounds and nations," Zimmer wrote in an all-university email on June 10.

He also said that the university is "monitoring recent issues closely" and will continue to "work with our community and external partners to address any concerns in keeping with the framework of laws and regulations".