MESSAGE FROM THE DEANS
We celebrate the 10th anniversary of OU’s College of International Studies at a moment of monumental challenge — and great hope. The COVID pandemic plunged international higher education into a crisis, interrupting international research, education abroad and the ability of international students to study in the
When we began discussions in February 2020 that ultimately led to the return of all OU students abroad and the temporary closing of our study centers in Arezzo and Puebla, we did
United States. This issue of the Compass tells the story of how the College of International Studies has navigated these challenges, and how we plan to emerge energetically as the pandemic wanes.
not imagine that international travel would be disrupted for more than a year. But as the travel shutdown has worn on, we have redoubled our efforts to meet the pandemic-related housing and food security needs of international students
The story includes the heartbreak of bringing home students in the midst of realizing longimagined study abroad experiences and of returning and new international students unable to reach home or to fulfill their dreams of arriving on the OU campus to study. But the pandemic story is also marked by the steadfastness of the College of International Studies in its dedication to students and by the professionalism of CIS staff.
on the OU campus, to safely receive new international students (even if, unfortunately, a smaller group than in recent years) and to plan for a vibrant future of education abroad. These efforts relied on collaboration with numerous partners across campus and the work coordinated by the International Student Task Force established by CIS Dean Scott Fritzen. (continued on page 4)
WWW.OU.EDU/CIS • SPRING 2021 • COMPASS: PANDEMIC EDITION
PAGE 3
