By: Esther Gowin
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The University of Arkansas hosts an annual celebration for international students throughout this week.
International Education Week aims to provide resources about international learning and celebrates the University’s international students.
Not only are the annual celebrations mostly virtual due to the current pandemic, but so are almost all of international student’s interactions at the university every day.
Francia Ravelombola, an international student from Madagascar, is working towards a PHD in environmental sciences at the University of Arkansas. She said studying became more difficult after the pandemic hit Arkansas.
“Most of the time, I will get help from other grads or others at the station that I’m working at for my research,” Ravelombola said. “Now I have to do everything by myself because we cannot be together anymore.”
Ravelombola said she never had an online class before the pandemic, but now it has become the new normal.
“I think when they switched to online classes, it seemed to me that I have to do a lot more work,” Ravelombola said. “That was really hard for me.”
Ravelombola is not alone in her struggle. According to the Fall 2020 Enrollment Report for the University of Arkansas, typically about 1,400 international students enroll each year. However, this semester’s enrollment data shows that the number of international students has dropped by about 14%.
The Assistant Director of Outreach at the International Students and Scholars, Cynthia Smith, said the university is working to increase enrollment of international students in the coming semesters.
“The university has been very creative in finding ways for students to come here and still be students while we follow all of the rules and regulations,” Smith said.
To learn more about the specific programs the Office of International Students and Scholars provides for international students, click here.