Currently, over a million college and university students in the United States – about 5.5% of the higher education population – come from other countries. 

Here at the U of A, our international student population makes up about 4.4 percent of our student body. 

Although these students come from an incredibly diverse range of cultures, they all share at least one common experience: Dealing with the stress and strain of complex and restrictive immigration regulations. 

The Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences invites the campus to experience what being “In Their Shoes” might be like, through a virtual workshop from 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29. 

This highly interactive workshop uses an engaging, relatable storytelling method to help faculty, staff, host families, and other community members gain a greater understanding of the unique constraints and challenges of being a foreign student in the United States. 

The workshop presenters are Audra Johnston and Cynthia Smith. 

Johnston is the associate director in the Office of International Students and Scholars at the University of Arkansas. In this role she oversees compliance functions for the department, including management of the university’s J-1 exchange visitor program and supervision of the department’s staff of Foreign Student Advisors. A self-professed “immigration geek,” Johnston has 20 years of advising experience with foreign students and scholars and particularly enjoys teaching and training in the field. 

Smith is the assistant director for outreach in of the Office of International Students and Scholars at the University of Arkansas. Her focus is to work with programs that connect international students with the campus and community. Smith started working officially in international education in 2000, but long before that was involved in international education personally. Smith is also the U of A's campus coordinator for International Education Week, International Women’s Day, Plaza de las Americas, and Cultural Immersions.

Please register for the “In Their Shoes” workshop by Oct. 27 at the registration link.