Simran Singh, OISS Director, presenting statistics on international students. Credit: Charles WilliamsThe Office of International Students & Scholars (OISS) hosted its annual staff workshop, “Supporting International Students,” on September 9.
The workshop provided information on immigration law, campus policy concerning international students, and social issues surrounding the international student experience. The event targeted UC Santa Barbara faculty, administrators, and staff. It is typically held a week before the International Graduate Student Orientation, also known as Graduate Cultural Awareness, Laws, and Immigration, or CALI, Training).
After the welcome address by OISS Director Simran Singh, UCSB Global Studies undergraduate student Alagie Jammeh shared his experience as an international scholar from the Gambia. The segment provided an opportunity for the audience to understand the social and cultural challenges that many international students encounter.
Alagie illustrated how OISS has been instrumental in alleviating difficult legal and social issues. "When I had a problem with my scholarship from the Gambian government," he said, "OISS staff were able to tell me what I needed to do and how to make this thing work." He continued, "International students can just come in to OISS, tell them what is needed, and they will be able to help with almost anything."
Alagie's experience aligns with the approach OISS Director Singh encourages in her office: "We're here to help and assist them in every aspect. Whether it is cultural adjustment, academic, mental health issues, or immigration issues, we tackle the whole gamut of international student challenges."
"International students can just come in to OISS, tell them what is needed, and they will be able to help with almost anything."
– Alagie Jammeh, UCSB international student from Gambia
Singh hopes domestic students at UCSB know that befriending an international student could be an invaluable learning opportunity. "A simple hello can be a first step toward a great friendship," Singh explained. She encouraged cultural exchange between domestic and international students and believes lessons learned through these friendships can be as valuable as those learned in the classroom. Singh recommended that domestic students speak slowly at times and ask questions to increase communication efficiency with international students, especially during initial conversations.
Presentations during the half-day workshop included:
- One Student’s Story: Navigating Cultural Conflict, Expanding Global Awareness (Alagie Jammeh, international student, and David Whitman, Resource Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity)
- UCSB’s International Students by the Numbers (Simran Singh, OISS Director)
- Addressing Academic Integrity in International Education (Ko Kashiwazaki, Assistant Judicial Affairs Coordinator)
- Introduction to H-1B (Tanya Plant and Jason Hopkins, OISS Staff)
- Hosting J-1 Visitors 101 (Martha Ledesma and Jason Hopkins, OISS Staff)
- Hiring International Students" (Layla San Jose and Nancy Doan, OISS Staff)
Jason Hopkins, OISS Staff, explains the H-1B visa. Credit: Charles Williams
Supporting international students has become an increasingly important issue for UCSB. During the "UCSB's International Students by the Numbers" segment of the workshop, Singh presented statistical data to provide context regarding the international student experience in both the United States and at UCSB.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the country saw an all-time high of 887,000 international higher education students in 2014, accounting for four percent of enrolled higher education students. California led the nation with 121,647 international students, generating $4 billion for the state's economy. International students added a total of $26.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2014.
Last year, UCSB’s incoming class saw an increase in the following international student categories: freshmen, transfer, master's, and doctorate. Doctoral students comprised the largest increase, up 57.7 percent from 2014. UCSB expects a total of 933 international students on campus in 2015. China accounts for the vast majority of incoming international students at 76.6 percent. India is second with 7.7 percent, and the United Kingdom is third at 7.3 percent.
In regard to field of study, a clear majority emerged among international students, with 74 percent majoring in STEM-related fields. Humanities placed second with 19 percent.
For more information on OISS, visit its website, email oiss@sa.ucsb.edu, or call 805-893-2929.
"We're here to help and assist them in every aspect. Whether it is cultural adjustment, academic, mental health issues, or immigration issues, we tackle the whole gamut of international student challenges."
– Simran Singh, Director of the Office of International Students and Scholars