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Supporting International Students Through the Coronavirus Crisis

Published: April 13, 2021

To many U.S. citizens, headlines about coronavirus may seem a world away. To the 34 international students from China on GUs campus, however, the headlines literally hit close to home.

GUs Office of International Affairs, building a reputation for its stellar service to international students, is now tasked with supporting those students through a time of fear and uncertainty. Dean of International Affairs Dr. Geet Vanaik approaches this challenge the same way she approaches every challenge: proactively.

Were not waiting, Vanaik decided when coronavirus hit the news. She knew her Chinese students, and students from other countries, would need plenty of emotional support, so she and her team in the Office of International Affairs created a plan and immediately set to work implementing it.

Housing in the Face of Travel Bans

Spring break posed the largest challenge. Chinas travel ban may still be in place during GUs break, meaning students cant visit home. Vanaik arranged for residence halls to accommodate international students during that week. She and her team quickly assembled a schedule of fun activities to keep students occupied over those long days without classes.

We want them to feel welcome and allowed to stay on campus, Vanaik says.

Any of GUs 100 international students, regardless of their country of origin, can take advantage of the impromptu spring break accommodations. Were thinking of everyone as a collective group, Vanaik says, since the potential spread of coronavirus may continue to change travel restrictions in various regions across the globe.

Respite from Worry

Her office also helps students unplug from worry and focus on positive things as much as possible. The office plans and pays for movie nights at the local theater, schedules extra trips for errands and shopping in nearby cities, and tries to keep international students entertained over weekends.

Theres so much anxiety right now, Vanaik says of the coronavirus situation. She doesnt want students sitting alone in their rooms, absorbing scary headlines for hours with no relief. She and her staff check in personally with students to see how theyre feeling and what theyve heard from their families back home.

So far, the plan seems to be working. Vanaik reports GUs international students to be in pretty good spirits.

Extending Support Across the Sea

Supporting students also includes supporting their home countries, says International Student Success Advisor, Liang Ge. Students often feel they can do little to help their communities from halfway across the globe. This can lead to frustration. He and his colleagues have launched an effort to gather and ship needed medical supplies to China, such as masks and medical gowns.

Were trying to do what we can to help our global community, Vanaik says.

Unfortunately, the increased demand for these specific medical supplies in China has created shortages in other countries, meaning long wait times for institutions like GU to purchase and ship them. Nevertheless, Vanaik and Ge remain hopeful that theyll have the supplies in hand and ready to send soonalong with encouraging notes from their students.

A Challenge to Others

Vanaik offers a challenge to other schools: get involved for the good of international students during this difficult time. Reach out to students, help them manage changes to travel plans, offer emotional support, send medical supplies to their home countries.

In the end, Vanaik says, serving an international student community is not about reacting to problems that surface; its about anticipating needs in the midst of an ever-changing world.

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