The Shifting Landscape for International Scholars

Recent headlines have been full of stories on how new and proposed changes to policy are affecting international students in the United States. But far less attention has been paid to the effect that they are having on international scholars. As much as the rapidly changing policy landscape causes upheaval for international students, international scholars feel the implications, as well.

Many scholars are facing these changes with additional complications, including dependents and immediate career considerations—factors that most students don’t have. It is a situation that confounds both scholars and those whose job it is to support them.

The Distinct Needs of Scholars

International scholars have always had uniquely different needs compared to international students. They are older and often come to the United States with families, requiring different housing needs. At the University of Idaho (U of I), for example, there are 70 scholars who have 60 dependents among them.

Many scholars have already had experience living in the United States. “A [smaller percentage] come directly from overseas,” says Dana Brolley, director of international services at the U of I. “They’ve either done some graduate or undergraduate work here. We don’t see many [for whom] this is their first experience.”

That doesn’t mean the scholars and their dependents don’t need help adjusting. “We now offer an orientation for dependents, to give them a sense of what is available in the community,” says Brolley. These orientations, which are structured to help scholars and their families navigate logistical concerns specific to their new area, may cover topics such as registering children in local schools, accessing medical care, and suggesting nearby places to shop, Brolley relays.

“We now offer an orientation for dependents, to give them a sense of what is available in the community.” —Dana Brolley

Still, there are scholars who need onboarding about U.S. academic culture. “They need to be introduced to the American way of higher education,” says Diane Zeenny Ghorayeb, international scholar coordinator at University of Maryland-Baltimore County (UMBC). “They don’t know the lingo [or] how to become faculty or an assistant professor. They need some training to level them up.”

The campus experience for scholars is also different. “In some regards, they are just a little more isolated,” says Brolley. “They’re not in a classroom every day.” Communication can be more difficult with their institution’s international office since they may be more integrated in their department than the office itself. Oftentimes, scholars are not as tightly linked or connected since they aren’t as campus-oriented as students are.

At the same time, the resources available for offices to help international scholars are frequently limited. “The funding structures on many campuses are focused around providing services to students,” notes Brolley. “There are fewer resources available for us to provide support for these populations. . . .Yet they are a significant part of our community.”

Providing Guidance

Given this mix of different needs and limited resources, the uncertainty of the past few months has proven to be stressful and trying for both scholars and the international officers supporting them. Frequently, universities are left with few options for navigating the whirlwind of changes and often with little to no advance notice of them.

“I find myself using the word ‘unprecedented’ more than I would like,” says Angélique Stevens, a visa specialist at Cultural Vistas, a nonprofit that facilitates internships and professional exchange programs.

Because of the volatility, Zeenny Ghorayeb relays that her university must be very responsive. “Sometimes we get information from news sources before it’s officially shared by the government,” she says. Institutions already experienced in the unexpected, due to COVID-19 and the first Trump administration, have responded quickly to the second Trump administration’s announcements.

“I find myself using the word ‘unprecedented’ more than I would like.” —Angélique Stevens

“When the threat of a travel ban first [arose], it was about getting people information, even if it wasn’t a detailed laundry list,” says Elizabeth (Liz) Goss, an immigration law attorney in Boston. “People were extremely appreciative of getting any information, even if all campuses could say was, ‘here’s what we know now.’” In part because of that communication, says Goss, “there was not a mass panic.”

In the face of such a rapidly shifting landscape, international officers must be as supportive as possible. “Because people are so anxious, you have to have a lot of interpersonal skills,” says Zeenny Ghorayeb. “You have to reassure them. . . .We share a lot of mental support and a lot of patience and understanding for what they are going through.”

Besides general unsettledness, certain areas are also of particular concern at present. “People are anxious about travel, even if they don’t hit the screenings,” says Goss. “We have people from every country questioning whether they should travel under the current circumstances.”

“A scholar may be coming in the next couple of months, and they are unsure if their start date is feasible,” says Stevens. “Or they may be in the United States and their stay has been extended, but their visa is expired, and they may not get an appointment to return. Even though I don’t have the answers, I can provide compassionate advice: ‘I know this is stressful, but here is how we are going to help you.’”

In her conversations with scholars about travel, Zeenny Ghorayeb explains the university’s telework practice and involves the scholar’s supervisor in the discussion. She also makes a point of notifying the scholar immediately if any news comes out, such as visa appointments reopening.

“Because people are so anxious, you have to have a lot of interpersonal skills. ... We share a lot of mental support and a lot of patience and understanding for what they are going through.” —Diane Zeenny Ghorayeb

Zeenny Ghorayeb also has some general guidelines she follows in discussions with scholars. First, she makes sure there’s sufficient time to meet, to ensure the meeting doesn’t feel rushed. She starts meetings on a personal note, taking the time to ask about their children or a favorite restaurant. She also makes a point of closing on a positive note about something not related to immigration, such as their research projects, to remind them of how much they love what they do.

The Cost of Uncertainty

Another complication for international scholars is the changes underway with processing visa applications. Modernization of existing technology was planned prior to the 2024 presidential general election and is rolling out across embassies now. “A lot of embassies are changing their systems,” Goss notes. As a result, processing times are often extended. At the same time, the Trump administration is seeking to vet the social media profiles of J-1 scholars, adding yet another layer—and more time—to the process.

“This particularly impacts scientists, because they often go to conferences and collaborate in other countries,” Goss says. “It was already difficult in a lot of situations, but now it just got harder.” At the same time, Goss acknowledges that she hasn’t yet seen an increase in additional reviews or delays for security clearances.

“This particularly impacts scientists, because they often go to conferences and collaborate in other countries.” —Elizabeth Goss

The uncertainty has led some scholars to turn down what would previously have been considered golden opportunities, including those at elite institutions. “I have seen some of them saying, ‘I have decided not to come [to the United States],’” relays Goss, “It’s first-, second-, and third-tier institutions, where individuals have decided it’s not worth it or decided to stay [in other countries] because they have certainty there.” Goss, who has been working in the field since the 1990s, says she had previously seen only one or two such cases in her entire career, but has seen two or three this year alone.

Goss asserts that the uncertainty only deprives universities of leaders in their field. “The people my clients are hiring, they are hiring because they want to enhance what they are offering,” she shares.

What Lies Ahead

With no end in sight to the changes that may be coming, the officers supporting scholars are feeling the burden. “I think people should know that we carry their story,” says Zeenny Ghorayeb. “I worry about them not being able to travel. . . It’s a very intense job.”

But at the same time, gratitude for the support is rewarding. “Our work is really appreciated,” says Goss. “I’m trying to hold onto those thankful messages—‘you made this process easier;’ ‘you reassured me when I was stressed.’ I am helping people, and people are grateful.”

As international scholars continue to navigate the shifting terrain of policy, limited institutional support, and constant uncertainty, the work and guidance of those who assist them has never been more vital. Unless acknowledgment and sustained attention to their needs are provided, the field risks losing the very minds it seeks to attract.  •