Voices Carry

As a graduate student, Russell Ganim’s struggles trying to pay a $400 fee on time got him involved in student advocacy. Now associate provost and dean of international programs at the University of Iowa, he supports international students who are calling for mental health resources, changes to English-language placement testing, and, yes, the timing of when certain fees are due. These student advocacy efforts, he says, help improve the international student experience—and are in themselves an integral part of their education.

“One of our goals for international students—and all students—is to train them to be leaders and advocate for themselves,” Ganim says. “Their stories need to be told, and their problems need to be heard and resolved to the extent that this is possible. The type of learning experience involved for faculty, students, and administrators is always enriching.”

Many international offices have created structures for student advocacy and dialogue with these offices and institutions’ administrations. With names like international student advisory boards (ISABs), international student councils, and international student support boards, these groups can help “keep the university accountable and responsive to international students and their concerns,” as the web page for the ISAB at George Mason University’s (GMU) puts it. The university’s ISAB serves as “a bridge between the international student population and our office,” says Yali Pan, associate director for engagement and assessment for GMU’s Office of International Programs and Services.

Advocacy can also help improve international offices and the services they provide. For example, the University of