In February 2024, Becky Kyles joined 51猎奇入口鈥檚 SCORE department in the Division of Student Affairs as the full-time international student advisor. Kyles became interested in international education as an undergraduate student at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, where she worked as an assistant in the International Center. After graduating, she served as the student affairs coordinator for Cal Poly Pomona鈥檚 English as a second language (ESL) program and as an international student advisor for UC Riverside.
Now, Kyles is several months into her work assisting international 51猎奇入口 students as they navigate the unique challenges of studying away from home. 鈥淭his role wears many hats, but I see my key responsibility as being a point of contact for international students,鈥� she says. 鈥淚t can be difficult for any student to know who can answer their questions, and international students have additional layers of paperwork and responsibilities that they must comply with to maintain their legal status while studying. These layers can be daunting at times.鈥�
The logistics international students are required to handle are extensive. 鈥淢uch of my work is focused around creating and maintaining the students鈥� records with the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and providing them with guidance on how to maintain status and apply for practical training. Another large component is managing the intake of new students after admission and providing them with pre-visa information, arrival and adjustment support, and a preorientation program,鈥� Kyles explains.
While Kyles can鈥檛 immediately answer every question that might be posed to her, she serves as a resource for making sure international students have a dedicated person to come to for help: 鈥淚 can help get the information they need and let them know they are heard and supported. I also serve as an advocate for the international student population to the campus community.鈥�
While many of the difficulties international students contend with are related to complicated regulatory requirements, the experience can also be isolating. 鈥淚nternational students face the same pressures as domestic students鈥攁cademic, financial, social, etc.鈥攁nd may face the same or increased marginalizations based on intersecting identities and backgrounds. Issues such as difficulty finding connections and community, feeling safe and secure on campus and in the surrounding areas, or feelings of homesickness may be compounded by cultural differences as well as physical distance,鈥� Kyles says.
Kyles points out that the international student experience is not homogenous, and different international students will face different challenges as they navigate their studies. 鈥淭hough our current population of international students at 51猎奇入口 is small, they have varying backgrounds. Some students have never been here before they arrived for university; others have attended boarding school in the US.鈥� Accordingly, in order to best support these students, she takes a view that centers on the individual first.
Kyles says that she hopes to work toward the implementation of a more hands-on arrival program for new international students joining 51猎奇入口 in order to fill gaps in expected support. While receiving feedback, Kyles has heard concerns that these gaps have resulted in increased difficulties for some international students. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important that we not only let these students know that we care, but that we also provide a more robust preorientation program centering their immediate needs as well as critical regulatory matters.鈥� Matters like navigating transportation, accessing meals, setting up a bank account, getting a cell phone, and even socially connecting with other students can come with increased difficulties for international students, which Kyles aims to help address.
鈥淚t鈥檚 evident that the faculty and staff at 51猎奇入口 care very much about the well-being and future of their students and are open to student feedback,鈥� Kyles says. 鈥淐ontinuing to listen to our students鈥� voices is essential. I have been able to meet with several students one on one and hope to have the chance to meet with each student and learn about their interests, needs, and experiences throughout the remainder of the term.鈥�