International Students Face Unique Obstacles Due to Coronavirus
By David Chen, Andrea Luo and Anya Tang
The shift to a remote spring term has raised concerns for international students enrolled at Phillips Exeter Academy. During the initial stages of the virus outbreak, many international students altered their travel plans to remain in the country over spring break. However, as COVID-19 cases rose and the situation worsened, international students were advised to return home by the Dean of Students Office.
As the international students returned to their countries of residence, they endured long hours of high-risk travel and quarantine. Now that online learning has begun, they also face obstacles of time zone differences and varying internet accessibility.
International Student Coordinator Jennifer Smith has assisted students with their travel situations and journeys home. “I have been working very closely with Dean [of Students Brooks] Moriarty since early March to help determine the best course of action for students,” Smith said. “First, it was for spring break, next, a short-term plan for a couple of weeks of online learning and then a hopeful April return to campus and, lastly, to help get students out of the U.S. and safely home as the situation both globally and in the U.S. rapidly deteriorated with COVID-19. We helped facilitate 11 students with host families or other group stays.”
Another concern about international students was Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) registration and fulfillment of visa requirements during this time. “I am working with international students to make certain that we know where they are for the spring term so that we can register students in SEVIS,” Smith said. “This database is our interface with the U.S. Government/Department of Homeland Security, where we report that students are enrolled in studies full time.”
“New regulations and guidance has been coming out weekly about how to adjust these procedures in this unprecedented time,” she said. “Students (new and graduating) are very worried about obtaining documents to get visas to study in the U.S., whether continuing on for college or hoping to matriculate at Exeter in the fall.”
When asked about the greatest challenge of learning away from campus, Smith noted the inconvenience of time zones with online classes. “From my vantage point, one of the first concerns was how to connect with Exeter from literally all around the world. The biggest initial challenge was the logistical aspects such as time differences (some students are anywhere from six to 12 hours ahead of the East Coast), to making sure that connectivity and online platforms were able to be accessed within various countries or not blocked,” Smith said.
In addition to the challenges of getting students home safely, the Academy had to have some students’ belongings and learning materials shipped for the remote term. “Traveling home was a challenge for many students. Some flights were limited or not available, and many students did not pack more than enough for spring break—so many of their belongings are still in their dorm rooms,” Smith said. “This is true for most students, not just international students. However, with the shipping restrictions and delays, getting items to international students may prove more challenging than ever before.”
The Academy has readily provided students with support over travel plans and the issue of remote learning with inconvenient time zones. “Many faculty members emailed me regarding my travel plan,” prep Tony Cai said. “I genuinely appreciate their hard work and their concern for us.”
Advisers have also been working hard, showing not only their concern for students’ learning but also their health and wellbeing. “Personally, my adviser has also reached out to me about my travel plans and my family’s safety,” upper and Hong Kong resident Vanessa Chan said.
A major concern for international students is the difficulty of attending classes due to the substantial difference in time zones. “The main issue [regarding remote learning] is the 12 hour time difference. It makes going to the last three blocks of the day harder, as it goes from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. in Hong Kong,” Chan said. “Thankfully, three different touchpoint options are given to meet the course requirement.”
Some international students have drastically shifted their daily schedules to attend EST classes. “A lot of my classes take place past midnight due to my timezone being GMT+7, meaning I have to take notes and participate while trying to stay up. 2 a.m. is usually not a time I take classes at,” lower and Thailand resident Zander Chearavanond said. “I have been adapting to the time by essentially turning nocturnal and just waking up at 1 or 2 p.m.”
Upon hearing news of spring term’s initial delay, and then the switch to remote learning, students scrambled to get on long international flights. Many made the decision to take risky flights, going well over ten hours, excluding lengthy precautionary screenings and procedures. In addition, upon landing and going through customs, many students had to quarantine, by themselves at home or by mass quarantine in government-run facilities.
Lower David Wang and upper May Chen were some of those who had experienced government enforced measures once they landed in their country. After arriving in Shanghai, Chen spent hours filling out forms and waiting to board buses to another testing location. After testing, Chen was sent to a hotel, where she had to wait two nights before going home
Since returning home, many have taken to acting strictly in accordance to quarantine rules. “The quarantine process was very strict,” Wang said. “We were asked constantly about our flight information, and some of us were forced to stay at a hotel for the first few days. I was lucky enough to be allowed to self-quarantine for two weeks at home with no one else living with me.
While some highlight the Academy’s support systems for international students, senior Mai Hoang wished that the school would have provided further and more transparent support. According to Hoang, “my summer program sent out a mass email to all alums with a database of potential hosts in various states and their contact info. That was so great! As a senior, I want the agency to coordinate with potential hosts myself, rather than going through PEA admin, so I wish PEA had done something similar.”