Mark Isham

1
Working With International Students in
CaliforniaCommunity Colleges

• Mark Isham
• Faculty, Counseling/International Student
  Services
• Diablo Valley college
• Pleasant Hill, California

2
What is an international student?

• International Student Any student studying in
  the United States with a non-resident student
  visa.
• Main student visa types are F-1, J-1, M-1, and
  M-3.
• Most international students have F-1 visa,
  indicating a specific program terminating in a
  certificate, degree, or transfer program, or
  intensive English language program.
• J-1 visa is mainly for students on a temporary
  program (e.g. exchange students) or who are
  sponsored by their home governments.
• M-1 visa is for vocational/technical programs.
• M-3 is for border commuter students who maintain
  residence in Mexico or Canada but take classes in
  the U.S.

3
International Students in the U.S. The Big
Picture

• Open Doors Report (Institute for International
  Education), 2006-2007 Academic Year
• 582,984 International Students in U.S.
  Institutions
• 86,179 International Students in U.S. Associates
  (Community College/Junior College) Institutions
• 77,987 International Students in California
  Institutions of Higher Education (more than any
  other state!)
• 2,189,000,000 contribution to the California
  economy!!

4
International Students in CaliforniaMore from
Open Doors, 2006-2007

• Top 5 Institutions with 1,000 International
  Students
• Top 5 Countries of Origin

Rank Institution Total IS
1 USC 7,115
2 UCLA 4,704
3 Stanford 3,751
4 UC-Berkeley 3,167
5 Santa Monica College 2,851
Country of Inter. Students Total This Country
Republic of Korea 13.5 8,582
Japan 12.5 7,943
India 10.6 6,779
China (PRC) 9.9 6,321
Taiwan 8.9 5,643
5
International Students in CaliforniaMore from
Open Doors, 2006-2007

• Fall 2006 33,573 F-1 and M-1 students in
  California Community Colleges 49,033 in Fall
  2007, according to the Chancellors Office.

Rank Institution IS Enrollment
3/40 Santa Monica College 2,851
4/40 De Anza College 2,155
8/40 City College of S.F. 1,220
11/40 Foothill College 1,077
14/40 Pasadena City College 1,003
16 (tie)/40 Diablo Valley College 912
21/40 El Camino College 780
22/40 L.A. City College 770
30/40 Mission College 653
31/40 Orange Coast College 652
35/40 Santa Barbara City College 637
38/40 Glendale C.C. 610
40/40 Grossmont College 558
Total 13,878
6
The Costs of Attending aCalifornia Community
College
Institution Cost per Unit Quarter/Semester
Santa Monica College 195 Semester
De Anza College 136 Quarter
City College of San Francisco 181 Semester
Foothill College 136 Quarter
Pasadena City College 181 Semester
Diablo Valley College 198 Semester
El Camino College 200 Semester
Los Angeles City College 183 Semester
Mission College 181 Semester
Orange Coast College 202 Semester
Costs are tuition only and may not include other
fees as applied by the college, living expenses,
health insurance, etc. Other costs vary by
campus, city, and region. As always, fees are
subject to change.
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What benefits do international students bring to
Californias community colleges?

• Cultural Diversity California resident students
  may represent various backgrounds themselves, but
  most have the common identity of being
  Californians and Americans or Permanent
  Residents.
• Cultural Awareness Many California resident
  students have never had a significant interaction
  with a person from another country before.
• Revenues Remember, more than two BILLION dollars
  was contributed to the California economy in
  2006-2007 by international students!

8
Immigration Regulations for F-1International
Students The Basics

• Maintain full-time enrollment each term (except
  vacation term as defined by United States
  Citizen and Immigrant Services, USCIS, or when
  given permission by international student
  office).
• Do not work off-campus without USCIS approval.
• Make regular progress toward program completion
  as it is defined on immigration documents (Ws,
  Is, NCs do not count as regular progress).
• Make sure passport, visa, and I-20 (document
  issued by host institution) are current and valid
  for travel.

9
On-campus International Student ResourceThe
International Student Office

• Every community college that enrolls
  international students will have an international
  student office, if not on campus, then somewhere
  else within the district.
• Respect your boundaries as a peer helper while
  your perspective as a peer is valuable, NEVER try
  to give immigration advising or academic
  counseling to an international student. Always
  refer students to the appropriate office for
  advising and counseling to insure accountability
  for the future.

10
Some Common Issues thatInternational Students
Face

• Financial International Students cannot qualify
  for Federal or State financial aid they are
  restricted to working on-campus unless they have
  permission from USCIS to work off-campus
  transferring funds from some other countries to
  the U.S. can sometimes be complicated
  unfamiliarity with U.S. banking system.
• Personal International Students may feel
  homesick may suffer from culture shock may
  experience language barrier may feel
  isolated/lonely may not know how or to whom to
  ask for help.

11
Some Common Issues thatInternational Students
Face

• Academic Limited English proficiency
  unfamiliarity with U.S. educational system
  meeting professors expectations academic
  honesty transferability of units university
  name recognition in home country pressure to
  succeed from family back home lack of personal
  freedom in decision-making.
• Adjustment Language, culture, climate, food,
  water, time zone, social interactions, customs.
• Relationships Family, dating, sexuality, gender
  identity.

12
A Process for Peer-HelpingL A R C

• L ISTEN to the students needs or concerns.
• A SK questions to confirm your understanding.
• R EFER the student to appropriate campus and/or
  community resources.
• C HECK-IN with the student later to determine
  whether or not s/he followed your referral.

13
Advocating for International Students

• Work with on-campus resources International
  Student Services, Student Life/Student Affairs,
  Faculty Allies, Counseling.
• Network with professional organizations NAFSA
  Association of International Educators American
  College Personnel Association National
  Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
• Connect students with community resources
  Co-national organizations faith-affiliated
  organizations state and local human services
  organizations LGBT community centers etc.
• Consider establishing a committee on
  international education in SSCCC.

14
Advocacy Websites

• NAFSA Association of International Educators,
  Take Action Center
• http//capwiz.com/nafsa/home/
• American College Personnel Association
• http//www.acpa.nche.edu/
• National Association of Student Personnel
  Administrators (NASPA)
• http//www.naspa.org/
• Student Senate for California Community Colleges
• http//www.studentsenateccc.org/