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Printer-Friendly ModeSaudis adjust to life on campus
February 13, 2006 —
Campus diversity has a new face this semester.
At SVSU, there are now 36 Saudi Arabian students enrolled for the winter semester, 33 of which arrived just before the semester began.
Resulting from last year's decision made by President George Bush after a meeting with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah, the United States' border restrictions regarding Saudis have been relaxed. Bush's new policy allows for Saudi students to come to the United States for higher learning.
Of the over 120 applicants accepted for admission, 36 students are now enrolled and attending classes. Three of the students are women, each here with a male family member, husband, or family friend.
The new Saudi students are adapting as well as can be expected, if not better, according to Heidi Vellenga, director of English Language Programs. The English language abilities of the new students is varied; while some have traveled extensively and have well-developed English skills, others have yet to become comfortably conversational.
"Thirty-three of the 36 are currently in the lower levels of the English Language Program (ELP)," Vellenga says. "I think their biggest problems are language and communication."
There are a large number of differences the Saudis are experiencing in their new environment compared to their home. Not only are the obvious cultural differences notable, but the physical environment is different as well. Vellenga commented on some of the students' reactions lightheartedly.
"They realize that it's been unseasonably warm lately," she says. "Mostly they're worried about tornados. One student joked that they were getting out of here before spring."
The cultural differences can probably be seen most notably in the classroom. In Saudi Arabia, classrooms are single gender with an instructor of the same. The only cross-gender educational experience students may have had would have been through an online course.
"One of the biggest changes is the mixed gender classrooms, as well as having students in their classes from different countries," Vellenga says.
Vellenga mentioned that the Office of International Programs (OIP) has been working diligently to help accommodate the needs of the Saudi students. The OIP is currently searching for a liaison to work as a link between the Saudis and campus.
"We're bringing in a new bilingual, Arab-speaking staff member," Vellenga says. "She'll work primarily out of the Office of International Program with the Saudi embassy in translating documents, specifically those dealing with detailing the Saudi government's subsidies for their tuition. Their main goal is getting students acclimated to the campus community."
A large majority of the students are being housed in Living Center South. There are three married couples, with children, that are staying in off-campus housing. However, the new Saudi students' transportation options are limited. None are currently able to drive on their own, so they must rely on public transportation or the help of other students, staff, or faculty to get to school. Some are in the process of buying cars and obtaining drivers licenses.
"Since the start of the semester the dean of the College of Business and Management (Marwan Wafa) has been giving rides nearly every day," Vellenga says.
Dining Services has also taken steps to help accommodate the new Saudi students. To help meet Muslim dietary requirements, Dining Services has begun purchasing Halaal meat to give the Saudi students a meat option at meals. There is no extra charge for the meat, as it is simply prepared differently. Halaal is an Arabic term describing anything permissible under Islamic law; meat prepared otherwise is forbidden.
Before this semester, more than one-third of the international students on campus were Asian, primarily from Taiwan, Japan, and Korea.
In academics, the Saudis are taking a small range of classes. In the ELP they make up a large portion of the level one and two courses. Some students with more developed language skills have also enrolled in other general education courses: Math 161, Chemistry 111, Communications 105A, Economics 125, and English 111, among others.
The new Saudi students are making an effort to get involved on campus. At the English Corner, they have begun to become regular participants. The English Corner meets Fridays in SE 139, next to the Writing Center, at 4 p.m.; there, students meet with other international students and native English speakers to ask questions, get answers, play American games, and learn about parts of American culture that are not necessarily taught inside a classroom.
The OIP is also in the process of recruiting more students for their Conversation Partners Program. In this program, native English speakers will be paired up with one international student to meet at least once a week for about an hour simply to talk.
The exchange is focused on developing the English speaking skills of the international students as well as helping enlighten them to the more subtle points of their new environment that can only be learned through one-on-one interaction.
In addition, the OIP is looking into organizing a number of different activities to let international students experience a little more of what Michigan has to offer outside of Kochville Township. They are currently exploring the ideas of taking a group of students up to Mackinaw Island or a ski trip to one of Michigan's many ski hills, among others things.
Vellenga is optimistic about the Saudi students' futures here. She notes that another cohort of Saudi students, approximately 20, will be arriving mid-semester to join the ELP. Housing is also looking into accommodating the housing needs of the additional students.
Vellenga encourages students not to be shy with the new students.
"Be friendly, don't be afraid to start conversations," she says. "Help them feel welcome."
Those interested in helping support the transition and welcome the new students should contact the OIP in Wickes 160 or by calling (989) 964-4473.