Case Study 1

Julia, a new international student to the U.S., arrives at the University of Arkansas a week before classes begin. You receive a request from her as her academic advisor to allow her to enroll below a full course of study. Julia states that she is not used to U.S. teaching methods, so she wants to take just one course in her major and one English support course. What steps should you ask Julia to take before you verify that she needs reduced enrollment?

Case Study 2

Lisa, an international student, is currently employed in a 50% graduate assistantship. The proctor you had lined up for an exam on Saturday has backed out. This is a paid position. Lisa is the only graduate student available to proctor the exam. She works 4 hours a day, Monday through Friday. Under what conditions can she proctor the 2 hour exam?

Case Study 3

Juan, an international student in his last semester at the University of Arkansas, has been teaching the intro course in your department for 4 years. Since this fall is his last semester and you needed the GA position to bring in a new graduate student, you present Juan with an offer to be an Instructor. This is a 50 % appointed position. He accepts. In October, Juan successfully defends his dissertation and submits all the required documents to the Graduate School to complete his degree requirements. What effect does completion of his degree have on his position as instructor? What options did Juan have?

Case Study 4

Reza, a graduate student in your department, has an opportunity to present at an international conference in France. What are some of the immigration issues he needs to consider if…

  1. He holds a French passport and is a resident of France?
  2. He holds a Frenchpassport but is a permanent resident of the United States?
  3. He holds both a French passport and a United States passport?

Case Study 5

International and domestic graduate student degree completion rates in your department are about equal. At a staff meeting, the faculty are discussing how to increase graduation rates when one faculty member observes that most of the students are leaving before completing their graduate degrees because they are getting job offers from top companies at high salaries. Another faculty member suggests that the department can increase at least the international student graduation rate by not supporting employment authorization applications until international students have defended their theses or dissertations. How would such a policy affect international students?How might it affect your department?