Emerson’s Office of International Student Affairs Assists International Students Transition to Graduate School
Being an international student comes with challenges like adjusting to cultural differences, practicing a new language, and more. To help make this process easier, most universities, including Emerson, offer International Student Affairs offices. At Emerson, many international students cite the Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) as key to navigating their transition to life in the United States and the wider Emerson community.
OISA offers a number of services, including immigration advising for students in F-1 status, work authorization, and coursework within the English Language Learning program. Additionally, OISA extends support to Emerson’s international students residing globally, not just in Boston.
One especially helpful tool facilitated by OISA is the International Student Enrollment Checklist. This list helps incoming graduate students stay organized and navigate the process with extra support.
Guidance from Max Crumley-Effinger
I had the opportunity to chat further about OISA’s resources with Max Crumley-Effinger, the department’s Assistant Director.
Within his role, Max advises international students on topics such as immigration and transitions to the academic, social, and professional life at Emerson and in the United States.
“There are so many opportunities at a place like Emerson, so I certainly believe that all of the offices, faculty, and staff at the College can help students overcome hurdles that may arise,” says Max. But most importantly, Max emphasizes that students do not need to deal with these hurdles alone.
According to Max, most of the challenges he sees with new international students are “related to visa restrictions including work limitations and enrollment requirements, financial difficulties, familiarizing themselves with undergraduate or graduate academic expectations, making social connections on an urban campus, and more.”
Max adds that “meeting the immigration requirements is a collaboration between the international student advisor and the student, so we need to work together to ensure that students maintain their F-1 status by following the visa rules and exploring opportunities in the system.”
While each situation presents its own challenges, Max highlights how “international students come to Emerson with incredible experiences, skills, and creative ideas related to their studies and their future,” which is why the OISA strives to work individually with students to provide tailored advice to support them in their own unique circumstances.
Other events held by OISA include a new international student orientation. Here, OISA covers topics related to academic life and living in a new city and country.
Beyond this orientation, the department helps foster a social community through monthly programs like Emerson’s English Language and Learning program, which supports students who wish to have additional academic and social language support. The Language Cafe series and other field trips are other events that help students learn in new areas while getting to know each other and the city. In addition, Max shares that OISA works with other offices “to advertise and support their programming for these students, including the Career Development Center, Emerson Wellness Center, Grad Studies, and more.”
The last piece of advice Max shared encourages international students to get involved with on-campus organizations, collaborate with friends and classmates on creative projects, and get to know their faculty and staff.
“While everyone needs time to recharge, I encourage students to keep an eye on how much time they are spending secluded to themselves because while things like social media and other media we might consume can be wonderful, it is also so valuable to build new connections in-person in Boston and at Emerson. You never know where those connections may lead,” he offers.
Emerson offers a number of great resources to help make the transition to a new environment as seamless as possible for international students. If you have questions about the process or would like more information, reach out to the Office of International Student Affairs or connect with a student involved in the International Graduate Student Organization.
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