International Student and Scholar Services

Resilient, steady support during continuous challenges

International Student and Scholar Services continued providing reliable support to Mizzou’s international community while adapting to multiple regulatory updates.

• 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, website announcements, advising appointments, social media and Zoom sessions.
• 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.  
• Briefed Intercampus Faculty Cabinet and various academic units on immigration-related challenges for students and scholars and their impact on the campus community.
• Hosted immigration town hall to educate students and scholars on proposes immigration changes and provide information on maintaining status in the United States.

Ensured university compliance with federal immigration regulations

• Maintained federal certifications to admit, enroll and host international students and scholars. Mizzou 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.
  • Obtained successful redesignation of our J-1 exchange visitor program, which allows Mizzou to continue hosting J-1 students and scholars.
  • 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 18 visiting scholars. Our staff also conducted a site visit to the Danforth Center.

Enhanced student and scholar experience

New student and scholar programs

• Hosted a comprehensive International Student Welcome for 415 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 sixth year of the $mart Work Mizzou fellowship program, facilitating on-campus employment for first semester international freshmen and transfer undergraduate students. In 2024/25, this program expanded to include support for a small number of graduate students and provides programming unique to on-campus employment and professional development opportunities.
• Hosted visiting scholars from Uzbekistan — three faculty fellows during spring 2025.
• Offered pre-arrival information sessions for new international students, including targeted pre-arrival communications.

Ongoing support programs

• Assisted international students, scholars and campus departments in understanding the changing federal policies related to F/J/H programs.
• Continued administration of the Curator’s Grant-in-Aid Scholarship, providing critical assistance to international students with demonstrated financial need.
• Presented a workshop on J-1 and H-1B scholars processes during Staff Development Week.
• Continued orientation sessions for new J-1 exchange visitors and new H-1B faculty and researchers.
• 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.
• Supported community engagement by facilitating about 40 international student and scholar and domestic student presenters for four different K–12 cultural festivals:
  • Rock Bridge Elementary School
  • Battle Elementary School
  • Hickman High School
  • Rock Bridge High School
• Represented Mizzou during International Education Day at the Capitol. ISSS staff and 16 international students and scholars learned about Missouri history, culture and values by touring the capitol and networked with a consortium of Missouri institutions.
• Facilitated cross-cultural interactions through Global Tigers Connect. In 2024, 155 Mizzou students and scholars were matched.
  • The program hosted four events that celebrated local culture, fostered community and encouraged students to learn about perspectives and experiences different from their own.

Advanced Sponsored Student Program

International sponsored students at Mizzou 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 12 in-person sponsor liaison meetings in Washington, D.C. and a campus visit from the Turkish Consulate.
• Participated in recruitment activities:
  • Four in-person recruitment fairs in Indonesia and Thailand with liaison visits.
  • Two Q&A webinars with admitted Uzbek students.
  • Two Q&A sessions with Oman government sponsored students.
  • One Fulbright graduate recruitment fair
  • Four EducationUSA sessions with Central Asia and Pakistan.
  • Two MENA webinars.
• Coordinated processing of dossiers for 60+ Fulbright and government-sponsored grantees.
• Advanced seven partnership development initiatives, including proposals for LPDP, SPARK, VIED and Iraq, and completed RFPs with Eurasia Foundation, World Learning, IREX, IIE, American Councils and Amideast to strengthen current sponsor collaborations and explore new opportunities.
• Submitted two new proposals for the Jakarta Provincial and VIED scholarship programs.

Provided personal attention for students

• Organized nine pre-arrival and orientation events, including pre-arrival webinars, in-person orientation programs, campus scavenger hunt and training sessions.
• Delivered three training programs, including arrival volunteer information sessions and an CPT/AT employment authorization webinar.
• Coordinated arrival support efforts, including bedding and personal supply donation drives and arrival volunteer training.
• Hosted specialized Sponsored Student Program events, including the Fulbright Welcome Dinner, monthly student lunches, graduation potlucks and other cultural programming.
• Coordinated placement and arrival of three new FEP fellows, managing logistics and faculty mentoring support.
• Responded to two student crises, ensuring timely intervention and collaboration with campus and sponsor partners.

Collaborated with campus stakeholders

• Partnered on six campus stakeholder initiatives, including the Care Team Basic Needs Resource Fair, referral reviews, Culture Couture and arrival assistance.
• Implemented and supported four efficiency projects, including an ISSS messaging audit, development of the sponsored student annual communications calendar, creation of the Sponsored Student Orientation Handbook and revisions to third party billing and operating procedures.
• Supported alumni engagement by hosting two international alumni dinners in Indonesia and Thailand.

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 17-NOV-2025