Many students in this population have expressed feeling overlooked and “difficult[y] adjusting to W&M.” They are often navigating very different academic systems, and adjusting to “pre-existing social circles” and a different language at times.
As an OA, Yannie has seen entire groups of international students trying to find their hall because they don’t have American SIM cards yet, so Groupme doesn’t work. As an OA, she's also seen blatant impatience, racism, and misunderstanding towards students and parents when dealing with language barriers, and has de-escalated these situations through translation as someone who speaks Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Translators are important! When asked about providing translators during parent check-in, it was raised that there haven’t been requests for this service. But if someone doesn't speak English, reaching out through email is not an effective option. International students are also never covered in OA training.
Exchange students do not get a pre-major advisor because there are differing major systems in different countries. Exchange students have expressed confusion around course registration. There are added steps with home coordinators that require reeves center support which is typically provided after course registration. Career resources are limited for international students. Many have “not gotten a lot of help from the career center getting jobs that provide H-1B sponsorship.” International students are worried about not being able to find jobs and internships because of their immigration status. International students pay an $80 fee per semester for Reeves center services which have mixed feedback.
Previous and Current Work:
Met with a great number of international, JDP, and exchange students to discuss how Student Assembly can best support their experience at William & Mary
Continually advocated for international students during OA training and recommended changes to OA programming
Policy Moving Forward:
Overall:
Examination of Reves services and hiring evaluation
Enough people are dissatisfied that considerations similar to those taken for SAS which led to rehiring are called for
Hiring translators in the Reeves Center by advocating that the BOV include this in the school’s payroll and budget allocations
Int’l Students:
Using another platform during orientation in addition to GroupMe to address SIM card troubles so that international students are in the loop
i.e. Schedules for the next day can be sent via email on top of Groupme
Translators or intentionally putting multilingual students who are comfortable translating at parent check-in and throughout orientation
Working with the Career Center to add resources for finding jobs with H-1B sponsorship
Include the international student population in OA training so OAs are equipped to provide good resources
JDP Students:
Support Senate in holding class events past freshman year so JDP students have a time and place to meet others from their class
Exchange Students:
Information session on course registration from Reves (before course registration!) so exchange students are informed on how to register with home coordinators