International students have been challenged to represent their different countries’ images positively.
Speaking from her office, Maria Costa, the associate director of International Programs, said international students going abroad for studies should make it their goal to enrich other students’ knowledge about their culture, lifestyle and values.
“The presence of international students really enriches us all, and that is why I ask all students to reach out to other people who are from different countries with different culture, values and lifestyle,” she said.
She said this will help a lot of students to know different cultural values, heritage and beliefs of other countries and people, noting that this can only take place through interacting with other students.
In addition to that, Costa urged students to follow and respect the rules and regulations as laid down by the university so that their stay can be peaceful and helpful to their studies.
“The laws apply to you, and you are going to be treated the same as any American whenever you break the rule of law,” she said. “That is why you need to understand what is legal and what is not legal.”
At an orientation program, which usually takes place at the opening of every semester, she addresses students about life in the university and how they should take care of themselves.
“There is no reason why anyone should be found on the wrong side of the law, as my office is fully open and ready to serve any student who is in a problem; you don’t necessarily need to be an international student to come to my office,” she said.
Costa said her main role is to bring the students to a certain level of awareness by making them understand the rules and regulations through orientation programs.
“We also send e-mails to international students, especially if new information comes up from the Immigration or Homeland Security departments that our international students need to know and be aware. We usually alert them promptly,” she said.
Costa, who has held her job for the last 13 years, asked the students to use the international web site on the campus to get the latest information.
She asked the students to trust themselves and put their studies first, as this is the only way through which they can succeed in life.
“You should work very hard and make the best out of your life as a student so that your life can be better in the near future,” she added.
She noted that the international student program was facing a low number of students joining the university as a result of the terrorism threat and competition from other universities in different countries that are offering a lot of scholarships to international students.
“This has been one of my major challenges, because a lot of students are also being denied visas to come and study here as a result of the terrorism, and more so, we are facing a lot of competition from other universities,” she said.
The program, which has over 160 international students from different countries, is expecting to get an additional 60 students during the fall semester.

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