TaMIS held a discussion on the unique challenges faced by international students and faculty, particularly regarding visas, funding, and accessing resources. The conversation also explored intersectional issues related to harassment, finances, and cultural barriers. This discussion highlighted the need for a more inclusive, supportive environment for international students and faculty, with an emphasis on improving access to resources, and fostering community.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Visa Issues
   Individuals on visas need to travel back to their home country for renewal, which adds additional time and financial burden on them. This is particularly true for postdoctoral scholars, whose visas often only last a single year due to one year employment appointments. Further, family members of visa holders often face restrictions, such as being unable to work, adding to the financial pressure. Visas are also often a major source of anxiety for international researchers.
2. Financial difficulties
   Outside jobs being a violation of student contracts, but the consequences of violating these rules can be much more severe for international students, including the potential loss of a visa. Some international individuals may also need or want to send money home, which places additional financial burdens on them. Beyond wages, international students also have increased difficulty in obtaining research funding. Many grants and fellowships are restricted to domestic students, adding additional barriers to international students. Further, navigating paying domestic and international challenges can add both a financial burden and additional stress to international individuals.
3. Accessing resources
   International students and faculty lack the necessary guidance in acquiring essentials like housing, licenses, bank accounts, and important documents. Further, many international students felt under-informed about their rights and the resources that may be available to them.
4. Exclusion and harassment
   Discrimination and harassment are unfortunately common, with certain nationalities facing more hostility than others. Many are told to “stay in their home country” and experience unwelcoming environments at Penn State and in the broader State College area. Outside of outright discrimination, international individuals often feel welcome in State College or at university events for a number of reasons. Even things as small as food choices at events or restaurants: many do not have a wide variety of food options, so those with religious, cultural, or personal dietary restrictions often cannot fully participate. Further, while some nationalities and cultures have a large community at Penn State, individuals from smaller or less represented areas can feel more unwelcome or excluded.

Actionable Items:

Much of the discussion around how to improve the experiences of international students fell into two main points:

1. Creating a feeling of community and inclusion
   Many international students and faculty struggle with a lack of community support, particularly those from underrepresented places. Providing inclusive food options and opening up Penn State resources to family members were ways discussion participants felt we could improve inclusivity at Penn State.
2. Increased availability and transparency of resources
   Discussion participants also noted the current difficulties and failures in international students onboarding. Often individuals felt that guidance on procuring resources was lacking and many wanted increased availability of support staff or peer guidance from those who have navigated these systems before. Further, many resources for international individuals are focused on undergraduate students and may not be applicable or relevant to graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, or faculty. Re-evaluating the current system to create resources that better support all international individuals can make sure everyone has the support they need to thrive.