Endorsed by AIS (Assembly of International Students), a group whose endorsement I am honored to receive.
Improving International Student Life
Increase international student financial aid, increasing number of World Scholars, and working towards need blind admissions. This is a tough issue and I don’t know the answer, but let’s brainstorm creative ways to achieve this.
Recruit internationally at local schools and not just international schools, starting with a seat for AIS on the Admissions Deans Advisory Board
Establish summer mailing service through Housing
Secure an international student hub by helping facilitate between Ajay Nair, Facilities, and AIS
Bolster institutional support for ISO through the Provost’s office and VPUL
Get Housing more involved (in terms of both human and financial resources) with winter break housing. The onus should be on them, not AIS volunteers!
Stay closely in touch with AIS Exec through GBMs and meetings with the board
Connecting International Students with Student Government
First I would connect AIS and UA members. It’s great that people come to our general body meetings on Sunday nights, but it’s much more effective to involve AIS members from the nascent stages of a proposal. Furthermore, giving AIS members familiarity will spur more ideas for proposals and actions for the UA to work with AIS on. Conversely, I will strongly encourage more UA members to check out the various projects you all are working on, with the permission of AIS, and make sure that a UA member is actively working on and aware of AIS’s major projects. Let’s collaborate!
Regarding UA Steering, let’s work within Steering groups’ existing channels, instead of making them work through us. This means, for example, having AIS present in depth on an issue they would like suggestions, support, and/or manpower with. Projects should arise from Steering, and projects should be vetted through Steering before being voted on by the UA.
Other Thoughts:
Despite not being an international student, I’ve had a strong interest in international student issues. I started by working on ISO first semester freshman year simply because I heard too many complaints, and there was no international student on the UA to represent them. I care most about student needs rather than luxurious wants, and I truly believe that big issues such as financial aid, summer housing, and ISO are needs that take priority over issues like dining. If elected, I will work collaboratively with AIS and work towards its goals (when our help is friendly) from the bottom of my heart.
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