INSIDE THE GATE
WORLD VIEW Supporting International Students through COVID-19 The International Center, located in the Office of International Programs, is the college’s home base for the international community at Columbia College. It serves students at main campus in Columbia, Missouri, as well as growing populations at the college’s locations in Denver and Salt Lake City. The Center’s staff provides our diverse student body with a welcoming environment that cultivates academic success and personal development, as well as assistance with federal immigration regulations and promotion of intercultural education. When campus closed in March, international students faced tough decisions about how, when and whether they could return home. After ensuring students had a safe
place to go, the Center provided support related to immigration and travel, financial uncertainty and social isolation. The Office of International Programs worked with the college’s Advancement and Student Affairs offices to raise and award private funds for students. These funds were especially important as international students were ineligible to receive emergency funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress. Students also attended regular virtual meet-ups to combat the loneliness and isolation of physical distancing. “While it is a highly stressful and unpredictable time for everyone, international students have been particularly affected by the pandemic.
Fall 2020
INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FAST FACTS
Affinity
14
Location
Columbia, Mo.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Denver, Colorado
Undergraduate enrollment
54 (Day Program)
52
42
Top countries represented
United Kingdom, Brazil, Spain, Nepal, Germany
Brazil, Mexico, Nepal, Venezuela, Ukraine
Nepal, Vietnam, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Libya
Top majors
International Business, Sports Management, General Studies
Business Administration, Management, Management Information Systems
Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Management Information Systems
