Increase awareness to raise diversity
Ben Royce
Issue date: 3/26/08 Section: News
All college students might face problems acclimating to the university environment, but that problem is only compounded for international students, according to the March 11 "Diversity: In Their Shoes" seminar.
Audra Johnston, assistant director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, led the seminar to educate UA staff members about some of the problems faced by international students.
About 958 international students attended the UA in the fall of 2007, according to the ISS Web site.
Specific problems UA international students might face include legal constraints and meeting certain requirements, such as: being a full-time student, not working more than 20 hours a week, working only on campus, being proficient in English, maintaining a valid passport at all times and having proof of financing, according to the Web site.
The seminar provides staff members with the knowledge to give competent advice to international students, Johnston said.
The main focus of the seminar was enrollment, employment and paperwork upkeep problems, but it also focused on problems that sometimes arise because of a lack of knowledge about U.S. culture and laws, according to a handout at the seminar.
With nearly 1,000 international students at the UA representing about 101 countries, many problems can arise from cultural incongruities, according to the ISS Web site.
Participants in the seminar were divided into groups and asked to analyze a scenario in which an international student was experiencing problems and identify what could be done to help that student.
In one example, a student had gone to the mall and accidentally shoplifted a shirt because, in his home country, the malls had a centralized place where a person paid for everything.
The store's employees notified the authorities and the student was arrested for shoplifting.
While this would be embarrassing and result in a large fine, Johnston said, it would involve much larger implications for international students.
A charge on this student's record could prevent him from getting his paperwork renewed, which would prevent from being able to remain in the country, Johnston said during the seminar.
Arslan Sabir, a freshman from Pakistan, said he considers food and travel - "like waiting for the buses and all that" - to be issues difficult to manage as an international student. Sabir also mentioned that every time he enters the country, he is delayed by customs.
International students also must live on campus until they are 21 and maintain a 2.5 GPA, Sabir said.
In addition, although it is possible for international students to get a driver's license, there are often complications with this; many employees at the revenue office turn down international students because their visas are expired, even though it is not required that they keep their visa current after they enter the country, according to the ISS Web site.
Audra Johnston, assistant director of the Office of International Students and Scholars, led the seminar to educate UA staff members about some of the problems faced by international students.
About 958 international students attended the UA in the fall of 2007, according to the ISS Web site.
Specific problems UA international students might face include legal constraints and meeting certain requirements, such as: being a full-time student, not working more than 20 hours a week, working only on campus, being proficient in English, maintaining a valid passport at all times and having proof of financing, according to the Web site.
The seminar provides staff members with the knowledge to give competent advice to international students, Johnston said.
The main focus of the seminar was enrollment, employment and paperwork upkeep problems, but it also focused on problems that sometimes arise because of a lack of knowledge about U.S. culture and laws, according to a handout at the seminar.
With nearly 1,000 international students at the UA representing about 101 countries, many problems can arise from cultural incongruities, according to the ISS Web site.
Participants in the seminar were divided into groups and asked to analyze a scenario in which an international student was experiencing problems and identify what could be done to help that student.
In one example, a student had gone to the mall and accidentally shoplifted a shirt because, in his home country, the malls had a centralized place where a person paid for everything.
The store's employees notified the authorities and the student was arrested for shoplifting.
While this would be embarrassing and result in a large fine, Johnston said, it would involve much larger implications for international students.
A charge on this student's record could prevent him from getting his paperwork renewed, which would prevent from being able to remain in the country, Johnston said during the seminar.
Arslan Sabir, a freshman from Pakistan, said he considers food and travel - "like waiting for the buses and all that" - to be issues difficult to manage as an international student. Sabir also mentioned that every time he enters the country, he is delayed by customs.
International students also must live on campus until they are 21 and maintain a 2.5 GPA, Sabir said.
In addition, although it is possible for international students to get a driver's license, there are often complications with this; many employees at the revenue office turn down international students because their visas are expired, even though it is not required that they keep their visa current after they enter the country, according to the ISS Web site.
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