Manni chats with Ohio Dominican University's Assistant Director of Admissions, Natalie Chang, while she's (luckily) working from home on an ice cold day. She discusses how she attracts international students to the chilly Ohio campus, as well as how her travels to Copenhagen and South Korea influenced her career path to where she is now. Tune in from a warm spot!
Starting off 2019, Manni chats with Trent University's Regional Manager of International Recruitment, Jessica Lee. She makes a great pitch to students for why they should come to the Canadian University and her backstory from Malaysia to Trent. One reason she gives for loving it so much to stick around was being one of the rare breed who enjoys snow and the cold. Tune in to learn all about the college!
Manni talks to David Colbert, the Executive Director of Trine University's International Services and Global Partnerships offices. He describes the ways the program helps international students from recruitment to getting their first job offer. David makes a strong case for small town Angola, Indiana and how his students learn from a diverse environment. He also discusses his athletic and musical interests, and describes his journey from college dropout to study abroad executive.
Kim Green joins Students Connect from San Jose State University. At her Silicon Valley based college, she is the Associate Director of the International Gateways program. She tells Manni how her program transitions international students into the technology industry, education, and politics in places all the way out to Hawaii.Tune in to learn about what made Kim get into this field, what there is to learn in multicultural settings and beyond college, and much more.
Manni chats with David Stewart, the Director for the Center of International Enrollment at Upper Iowa University. They discuss the ways UIU stands out to international students as a small town college by providing a tight-knit community. David also describes his journey to his current position as a study abroad learner from Canada to the U.S. to Korea and back again. Tune in to learn all about the academic appeal of small-town U.S.A!
This episode features Kate Karniouchina, the Dean of Mills College's School of Business. Tune in as Manni learns where Kate's from and her journey to sunny California. Also learn about Mills College's devotion to transferring students from abroad right into the budding technology industry of the Bay Area.
Manni chats with Chigusa Katoku, the Director of International Programs at Mission College. She explains her journey from Japanese exchange student to study abroad professional, and makes Manni very jealous of the weather in California. Tune in to get all the info you need if you're thinking of going to Mission!
David Lindberg, the Director of International Enrollment at Fisher College chats with Manni in this installment. Manni learns about the ways David makes his school stand out in the big college town of Boston while still making Fisher feel like its own small community. Tune in to learn about the school, David's former basketball career, and everything in between!
The infamous travel ban
With just over 950,000 international students studying abroad in the U.S., plus thousands more considering studies in America, there appears to be a cloud of dread and confusion. This affects not only current students, but those potential students in countries that have officially been placed on the travel ban list.
As of December 4, 2017, the United States Supreme Court began to implement President Trump’s travel ban. Countries on this list has changed from what was originally issued as a temporary ban on the counties of Iran, Sudan, Yemen, Libya, Syria and Somalia; to an indefinite revised list.
The revisions
Iraq and Sudan; two out of the six countries from the temporary 90 day ban have been removed from the list with an addition of Chad, North Korea, and Venezuela taking their place. All other countries from the original travel ban are still in place.
Under this newly expanded travel ban, persons whom are exempt, are those who hold dual citizenship, existing visa holders and persons who have already obtained legal status in the U.S.
The breakdown
For the newly added countries of Venezuela, North Korea and Chad: Venezuelan government officials and close family members will be barred from entry. Most North Korean citizens and citizens of Chad will be barred entry as well.
For Chad, Libya and Yemen this also affects immigrants and non-immigrants traveling for business and tourism. They will be barred entry into the states as well.
While the travel ban is in effect for these countries, the ban still has the potential to change as quick as it were enforced; mainly due to the multiple lawsuits from those who call the travel ban, a ‘Muslim’ ban.
Higher education groups are rallying against the ban; addressing their case on how other countries may view the United States Government as being a ‘hostile’ power against those from predominant muslim countries. The U.S Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled this travel ban as illegal on 12/22/2017. The U.S. Supreme Court has a pending review of the ban.
Travel ban is not a student ban
If you are a current student or a student looking to study abroad in the United States, you’re probably wondering how this may affect you.
For students who have obtained access under their I-20 with appropriate travel documents; this travel ban will not affect your studies or reentry into the states under your student visa.
For students in the banned countries who would like to study in the states, you will be able to apply for your student visa, but it may take a bit longer to process due to the new vetting procedures that are in place. Your family members may not be able to visit you in the states during your studies; with the exception of those who may qualify for entry under certain circumstances.
Although international students are only making up a fraction of higher ed students in the states, schools are taking a big financial hit because of the ban. There is fear and uncertainty from students in the affected countries, this has created a decline in applicants within the past year.
What can higher ed institutions do to ease the uncertainty of current students and those looking to study abroad?
- Work with local and state media to gather and push accurate up to date information
- Reach out to international students via social media regarding travel and what to expect
- Create programs and activities that keep international students active and engaged during stay in the states during breaks
Misconceptions
A misconception found amongst international students: student’s within these countries are under the impression that they will not be able to gain entry into the states; for those already within the states fears of their studies ending lingers on.
So what makes an international student ineligible? Not obtaining appropriate travel documents and rejection due to the vetting process.
For more information on form I-20, click here.