"Cut Ties" Explores How International Student Challenges Are Reshaping SEMO’s Campus Community

A highlighting coverage of the Arrow's latest print product, the the special section piece "Cut Ties" discusses the decline in international students at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO), noting their vital contributions to campus culture and diversity. 

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:02):
Welcome to another episode of Arrow on the Air. I'm
Ella Tinsley, featuring a special section coverage. This week's episode
focuses on highlighting the Aero's special section print product cut
Ties regarding a decline in international students at CMO. International
students make up a significant portion of the campus's community,
and with that community, they bring a plethora of experiences

(00:25):
in culture to campus that would be missing without them.
Kevin Timlin, director of the Office of International Education and
Services commonly known as IES, contributes to the conversation.

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Everybody who's a member of our educational community has the
ability to inform and the ability to learn from everybody
else in the educational community. So with that in mind,
more diversity, more experiences, different backgrounds, bring more awareness and
understanding to the educational community.

Speaker 1 (00:55):
However, limitations and difficulties in obtaining visas through the lengthy
process has caused much frustration in the student body. According
to previous reporting from the Southeast Arrow. In April of
twenty twenty five, twenty four CIMO International students were terminated
from the CIVUS system. While they were all eventually reinstated,
the event was described as chaotic for those who were involved.

Speaker 2 (01:18):
They found a number of students that had some kind
of illegal issue, and behind the scenes in the State Department,
they revoked the visa, but the Department of Homeland Security
also terminated civa's status, and that, as far as I'm concerned,
was unique. It used to be the DSOs because we're

(01:38):
the ones monitoring what the students are doing. We're the
ones who are on the ground that can see exactly
what they're doing. So it was by and large our
call if they if they terminate, if we terminate the status.
That was a really new thing where the or DHS
did those terminations. It was short lived, it was chaotic,

(02:00):
it was it was traumatic for the students, but those
students all had their CIVA status reinstated and that hasn't
happened again.

Speaker 1 (02:09):
International students also contribute heavily to the financial aspects of
the university. According to cimo's Student Financial Services, domestic students
pay twenty two thousand, two hundred and sixty nine dollars
for tuition fees on average, an estimated amount for books
and supplies, a room rate, and a meal plan. For
the twenty twenty five twenty twenty six academic school year.

(02:30):
This cost has risen for international students who pay thirty
two thousand, ninety two dollars and fourteen cents.

Speaker 2 (02:37):
So so we do have a different domestic tuition rate.
But again we do have automatic merit based scholarships for
international students, so that if you're qualified, it's going to
bring that cost down, you know. Other than that, you know,
they pay the same dorm fees, They pay the same
you know. I think the challenge financial is that they

(03:00):
don't have the ability to work off campus in the
way that a domestic student would.

Speaker 1 (03:04):
For students who are here on campus, the university does
offer a number of resources specifically for them to adjust
to living on campus and in the.

Speaker 2 (03:12):
US well, the exact same as a domestic student. Again,
there's no differentiated they're CIMO students. They have access to
all the academic support services. Yeah, I mean it's there.
Really isn't anything different in terms of academic I did
mention our International Student Services Office. They do a number

(03:34):
of kind of advising cultural types of things to help students.

Speaker 1 (03:39):
These resources include International Village as a Hub for learning,
campus engagement and cultural exchange, the Intensive English Program for
English learning and practicing of key Skills, the International Students
Liaison Group, which offers guidance on a number of topics
and more. Thank you for listening to Arrow on the air.

(03:59):
I'm your host Elatinseley, and I will see you next time.