Resilient, steady support during continuous challenges
International Student and Scholar Services continued providing reliable support to MU’s international community while adjusting to updated regulatory guidance and significant international crises.
- Provided services to ensure compliance with F/J/H regulations. Provided regular guidance and updates for MU’s international students and scholars and campus stakeholders through email, advising appointments, social media and Zoom sessions.
- Continued coordinated crisis response for international students and scholars.
- Successfully nominated one Palestinian and one Ukrainian student for grants from the IIE Emergency Student Fund.
- Supported two scholars through the IIE Scholar Rescue Fund.
- Facilitated the ongoing distribution of $200,000 in emergency financial support for international students.
- Maintained flexible advising and document processing services. Advising appointments were available on Zoom, by phone or in person.
- Continued assisting hundreds of international students and scholars with enrollment requirements, international travel and re-entry to the U.S., health care and insurance, and other issues affecting their immigration status.
- Collaborated with campus and community stakeholders to provide outreach sessions, including sessions on taxation, employment and options after graduation.
- Offered department-specific presentations to better support the international student and scholar experience across campus.
Ensured university compliance with federal immigration regulations
- Maintained federal certifications to admit, enroll and host international students and scholars. MU is designated a J-1 exchange visitor academic program sponsor by the U.S. Department of State and is F-program certified by the Student Exchange Visitor Program under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Hosted a campus visit for our field representative for the Student Exchange Visitor Program to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
- Accurate completion of federal immigration reporting requirements. ISSS processes critical data changes that are reportable in SEVIS, the federal government’s international student database.
- Provide accurate and efficient OPT and OPT STEM services. Students continue to utilize post-completion optional practical training, which permits students and recent graduates in F-1 nonimmigrant status to engage in training that is directly related to their field of study. The online application endorsement process through myStatus facilitates better communication and allows students to review and update their records more quickly.
Immigration document processing
- Issued immigration documents necessary for newly admitted students to attend MU and for scholars to begin their programs or employment with MU.
- Improved turnaround time for processing document requests for international students and scholars.
- Provided J-1 scholar services to Danforth Plant Sciences Center, an independent nonprofit research center in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Staff provided document processing and advising for 23 visiting scholars. Our staff also conducted a site visit to the Danforth Center.
SEVIS reportable events | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
---|---|---|---|
SEVIS registrations | 2,068 | 2,253 | ??? |
Personal information changes | 1,623 | 1,971 | 1,761 |
Change of program | 264 | 208 | 248 |
Change of education level | 51 | 38 | 43 |
Curricular Practical Training authorizations | 203 | 189 | 139 |
Optional Practical Training requests | 146 | 182 | 198 |
OPT employment information changes | 290 | 266 | 202 |
OPT STEM extension requests | 73 | 71 | 85 |
Total | 4,718 | 5,178 | ??? |
New documents for incoming students and scholars | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
---|---|---|---|
I-20/DS-2019 student documents issued (Students who enrolled at MU) | 797 (435) | 713 (442) | 762 (425) |
J-1 visiting scholar records created | 294 | 330 | 357 |
H-1B petitions created | 85 | 87 | 112 |
Document requests completed | 2021/22 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 |
---|---|---|---|
Enrolled F-1/J-1 students | 2,273 | 2,482 | 2,712 |
Active J-1 scholars | 176 | 129 | 234 |
Enhanced student and scholar experience
New student and scholar programs
- Hosted a comprehensive International Student Welcome for 420 new international students.
- Collaborated with Mizzou Study Abroad and other campus partners to host International Field Day, which helps connect new international and domestic students.
- Completed the fifth year of the $mart Work Mizzou fellowship program, facilitating on-campus employment for first semester international freshmen and transfer undergraduate students.
- Hosted visiting scholars from Uzbekistan —two faculty fellows during fall 2023 and a group of seven short-term scholars from Tashkent State Agrarian University during summer 2024.
- Facilitated scholar transfer process to the new MU NextGen Precision Health, which hosted 34 J-1 research scholars in 2023/24.
Ongoing support programs
- Assisted international students, scholars and campus departments in understanding the changing federal policies related to F/J/H programs.
- Provided immigration workshops led by attorneys to provide students and scholars with information about immigration options after graduation or employment.
- Continued administration of the Curator’s Grant-in-Aid Scholarship, providing critical assistance to international students with demonstrated financial need.
- Established GIA review committee to improve the application and selection processes.
- Presented a workshop on J-1 and H-1B scholars processes during Staff Development Week and a session for international postdocs during National Postdoc Appreciation Week.
- Continued extensive support to campus stakeholders who work with international students.
- Continued collaboration with Residential Life to offer a smooth transition to campus for new students.
Advanced Sponsored Student Program
International sponsored students at MU receive educational funding through a third-party source such as a government (U.S. or foreign), foundation, nonprofit organization, employer, university or business. Through the Sponsored Student Program, International Student and Scholar Services serves as a central point of contact and liaison between sponsoring agencies, sponsored students and a variety of offices across campus.
Strengthened relationships with sponsoring agencies
- Hosted 19 in-person sponsor liaison meetings in Washington, D.C. Additional visits included seven meetings with Indonesian sponsors and four virtual meetings with sponsors from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
- Participated in four virtual recruitment fairs and six virtual recruitment webinars, including events with SABIC, LPDP and EducationUSA.
- Participated in three in-person recruitment fairs in Indonesia and Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Developed new proposals with 10 sponsor programs in 2021/22 and seven in 2022/23.
- Facilitated placement of Uzbek faculty members. Submitted RFP, identified co-mentors and managed placement logistics for two faculty members from Uzbekistan placed at MU for a five-month faculty enrichment program through American Councils for International Education.
Provided personal attention for students
- Hosted five specialized orientation events, including pre-arrival webinars, arrival support training and in-person orientation sessions.
- Organized nine sponsored student lunches and the Fulbright Welcome Dinner.
- Coordinated student participation in cultural programming including the Rock Bridge High School Cultural Night and Battle Elementary School Cultural Night.
- Continued to gauge student satisfaction through surveys and identity areas for growth.
- Hosted three sponsored student alumni dinners in Indonesia.
Collaborated with campus stakeholders
- Coordinated a visit from the Indonesian Consul General.
- Presented to campus stakeholders on international rankings.
- Participated in the MU Strategic Enrollment Management Committee.
- Hosted a Q&A session for MU faculty on hosting foreign Fulbright grantees.
Fast facts: International students and scholars
Refer to the Open Doors: Mizzou report for the latest data on international students and scholars at Mizzou.
Updated 18-NOV-2024