The US Department of Homeland Security and the US Department of State designed the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) to monitor school and exchange programs in the F, M and J (non-immigrant) visitor categories. This information is then stored and maintained in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). It is Internet based and keeps track of the current and up-to-date data on all non-immigrant students on the F, M and exchange visitor students on the J and any dependents who are on an F-2, M-2 or J-2 visa.
The SEVIS system allows for schools and program sponsors to easily transmit via the Internet the mandatory requirements and notifications to both the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DOS and DHS). To learn more you can go to the SEVIS site to learn more.
A video is also provided by DHS called SEVP 101 which explains how the SEVP program supports the Homeland Security Investigations mission and directorate within Immigration and Customs Enforcement to support and protect national security. It provides an understanding of the student visa process and regulations for participants.