International Students
“An international student is defined as an individual who is enrolled for credit at an accredited higher education institution in the U.S. on a temporary visa, and who is not an immigrant (permanent resident with an I-51 or Green Card), or an undocumented immigrant, or a refugee." (UNESCO).
At Carruth, we welcome students from diverse cultural backgrounds and we hope to assist you in your transition to WVU & U.S. and to connect you with resources. We also have bilingual counselors who can provide services in Chinese and Spanish.
Common Challenges
In addition to problems domestic students may have also experienced in transition to college life, international students are further challenged by cultural, psychological, and social adaptation to a new culture. These challenges may include:
Language Barrier
If English is not your primary language, it can be really challenging to not only speak but also think in English. Many international students struggle with fully understanding what others have said in daily conversations or in class. You may feel self-conscious about your accent. You may find yourself spending twice as much time reading your textbook as your peers. You may find it challenging to formulate answers in your mind when trying to speak up in class.
These experiences are totally normal and commonly shared among international students. However, it can create a great deal of stress and impact on your academic and social life.
Academic Stress and Career Concerns
Many international students also experience mismatch in their academic expectations and the realities of university life in the U.S., resulting in disappointment and frustration. Other may struggle with adjusting to an interactive teaching style and a critical thinking approach to learning.
Additionally, many international students struggle with uncertainty regarding their major. Others are concerned about not being able to find internship experiences. Many also feel torn about staying versus going back to their home country upon graduation.
Limited Social Support
Being so far away from home can be really challenging. Many international students experience homesickness and a lack of reliable social support. Some international students may experience difficulty establishing a new social network in a new environment due to unfamiliarity with social norms and language difficulty, leading to feeling of loneliness and a sense of isolation.
In addition, many international students experience discrimination and microaggression, making it hard to feel safe and welcomed in a new environment.
Practical/Lifestyle Challenges
Many international students experience financial difficulties, greater tuition fees, and transportation issues. Living in a smaller city like Morgantown can make it hard to find restaurants for authentic food.
Cultural Adjustment Tips
- Learn about the U.S. holidays, practices, and social customs.
- Spend time in conversation with students and others from the U.S.
- Use the media – TV, movies, music, newspapers, Internet, etc. – to learn all
that you can about local and national news, events, and culture.
- When uncertain about the appropriate behavior, language, etc. in a given situation,
check with others.
- Find someone with whom you feel comfortable to serve as your “culture coach.”
Cultural Adjustment Resources
International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS)
ISSS offers various cross-cultural programs and activities in which you can be involved. This includes Fitting in to the U.S. Culture workshops, Mentoring Program, Alumni Program, and Friends of International Students & Scholars. For more details, please visit their website, call them at 304-293-3519 or email them at isss-students@mail.wvu.edu.
Academic Success Tips
- Discuss educational norms with fellow students, academic advisors, and teachers.
- Be aware of your academic rights and policies of academic penalties for failure
to meet academic requirements and for academic honesty (for details, please
visit the
Student Catalog
).
- Take notes in class.
- Talk to your TA or the instructor after class, during their office hours, or
schedule an appointment.
- Seek guidance from your academic advisor.
- Seek an academic mentor.
- Find a study group.
Academic Success Resources
Student Success
The Student Success office provides one-on-one coaching, tutoring, and seminars on academic strategies. Tutoring services are available at Downtown Library ARC, Evansdale Library ARC, and Bennett Tower ARC for different subjects, such as chemistry, math, physics and statistics. The writing studio provides one-on-one consultation for different academic skills, such as note-taking, pre-writing to revision strategies, editing, and effective presentation techniques.
MindFit at Carruth Center
The Office of Accessibility Services (OAS)
The OAS works with students with temporary or permanent disabilities at WVU. Specialists work individually with students to help them achieve academic success.
Career Success Tips
- Explore your career interests and values as early as possible.
- Obtain as much information as possible regarding your major and associated
career outlook in the U.S. and back home.
- Start early and be strategic by knowing CPT regulations and process – talk
to staff at the ISSS.
- Find your career mentor in the U.S. and back home.
- Extracurricular activities can help build your resume.
Career Success Resources
Career Services Center
- How to choose a major
- Explore career options
- Meet with a career development specialist
- Build your resume
- Review resume, cover letter, and personal statement
- Networking
- Job search strategy
- Graduate school advising
- Preparing for an interview
- Career fairs and events
International Employee Friendly Employers
GoinGlobal is an online tool with an H-1B Info section where international students can search for US employers who have sponsored for H-1B employment visas.
myvisajobs.com is another resource to see which employers have petitioned for H-1Bs in the past. This site also shows employers who have sponsored for Permanent Residency (Green Card).
US Department of Labor H-1B Data : The US Department of Labor Office of Foreign Labor Certification generates annual reports on labor certifications, which is a core part of the H-1B and Permanent Residency application process. Report examples include top occupations for H-1B by state, top 10 employers sponsoring for H-1B and top occupation areas for permanent residency applications.
Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services
The Carruth Center for Psychological and Psychiatric Services provides consultation as well as group and individual counseling services. Students can drop in any weekday from 8:15 to 3:00 or call to schedule an appointment.
International Student Support Group
- Share experiences as an international student, including challenges, growths,
and celebrations
- Receive and provide support, understanding, and suggestions from and to other
international students
- Explore ways to cope with stress, learn new information, and expand worldviews
Cultural Hacks
A series of workshops for international students regarding how to best adjust to the academic and social life at WVU and in the U.S. Please contact us to see when and where they are offered during the semester. Topics include:
- What cultural adjustment looks like
- Cultural norms in the U.S.
- Possible challenges of adjusting to the U.S.
- What to expect studying at WVU
- Tips for academic, social, and emotional success
- How to manage stress
- Resources on campus and in Morgantown
- What the university counseling center has to offer
Other Resources
Transportation
Financial Support
International Student Scholarships
International Students Emergency Fund
Legal Support
Student Legal Services
Student Legal Services provides services to all students with legal issues including, but not limited to, the following areas of law: leases, contracts, landlord/tenant issues, consumer issues, notary services, insurance matters, wills and powers of attorney, debt collection, expungement of criminal records, employment grievances, family law and domestic matters, and general civil matters.
Food Pantries
62 Mountainlair or call (304) 293-4397
Canyon Presbyterian Church
304-594-2143
Location:
766 Canyon Road, In Basement
Hours: Monday 10am-1pm
Eligibility: Once Every 6-8 weeks
Catholic Charities
Location:
827 Fairmont Road Suite 203, Westover
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-12pm
Eligibility: Once a Month
Christian Help, Inc.
Location:
219 Walnut St., Morgantown
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9am-4pm & Friday 9am-2pm
Eligibility: Once every 2 months
Getting Involved
Event Calendar
Interested in exploring what is going on campus and how you can get involved? Please take a look at the event calendar to see if there are events you would like to attend.
Student Organizations
Interested in exploring student organizations on campus? Please explore the diverse student organizations WVU has to offer, including different student organizations for majors/colleges, cultural/international groups, religious groups, services groups, and groups for sports and recreation.
Cultural Student Organizations
-
African Student Association
-
Arabic Culture Club
-
Association for India’s Development
-
Spectrum (LGBTQ Mountaineers)
-
Black Student Union
-
Brazilian Student Organization
-
Chinese Club of WVU
-
Chinese Students and Scholars Association
-
Association of Black Journalists
-
Muslim Student Association
-
Indian Student Association
-
Institute for Human Dignity
-
International Students Organization
-
Iranian Student Association
-
Circolo Italiano (Italian Studies Club)
-
Japanese Club
-
WVU Korean Club
-
Kuwait Student Association
-
Lambda Kappa Sigma
-
Latin American Student Organization
-
Organization for Native American Interests
-
Nepalese Students and Scholars Organization
-
Omani Student Association
-
Russian Club of WVU
-
Saudi Students Association
-
Taiwanese Student Association
-
Turkish Student Association
-
WVU Bhangra
-
WVU Cooking Club
-
WVU French Club
Religious Student Organizations
Tim Gray
432 High Street, Morgantown WV 26505
Phone: 304-292-3323
Corey Friend
179 Fayette Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
PO Box 449, Morgantown, WV 26507-0449
Faculty Advisor: Shan Hileman
304-293-1502
Rabbi Zalman & Hindy Gurevitz
424 Brockway Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26501
304-599-1515
Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship
Rusty Trubey
Lutheran Student Center
497 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505
Gary Gross
2901 University Avenue, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
304-599-4445
Jeremy Andrews
308 Elmhurst Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-599-4549
Fellowship of Christian Athletes
Amy Wagner
Campus Director
PO Box 202, Dellslow, WV 26531
West Virginia University Hillel
Deva and Heidi Solomon
1420 University Avenue, Morgantown WV 26505
Phone: Deva 304-685-3180
Phone: Heidi 304-685-5009
Global Intervarsity Christian Fellowship
293 Willey Street, Morgantown, WV 26508
304-376-7298
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Karla Myers
293 Willey Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-376-7297
United Methodist Student Movement WVU
Cindy Stackpole
The Quad
503 North High Street, Morgantown WV 26505
Phone: 304-594-6066
Latter Day Saints Student
Association
Jeff Skousen
596 Willey Street, Morgantown WV 26505
Phone: 304-293-6256 ext. 4326
Lutheran Student Movement
Matthew Riegel
1497 University Avenue
304-296-5388
Chaplain@LutheranMountaineer.org
Reformed University Outreach at WVU
Luke Josiah Walkup
Mountaineer Campus Ministry
Michel Boyer
The Quad
503 High Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: 304-680-3233
2923 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26504
304-599-6151
P.O. Box 6444, Morgantown WV 26506
Phone: 304-293-8654
1481 University Avenue, Morgantown WV 26505
Phone: 304-296-8231
Presbyterian Student Fellowship, WVU
Shelly Barrick Parsons
293 Willey Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: 304-292-4061
http://psfwvu.blogspot.com
Orthodox Christian Fellowship of WVU
Fr. Matthew Stagon
447 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-777-9402
Assumption Greek Orthodox Church
447 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-292-9048
432 High Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-292-3323
gray@wvbc.org
456 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 296-8236
441 Harding Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-598-7396
Spruce Street United Methodist
386 Spruce Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-292-3359
1481 University Avenue, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-296-8231
309 Baldwin Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 599-0620
Suncrest United Methodist Church
479 Van Voorhis Road, Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 599-6306
The Christian & Missionary Alliance Church
308 Elmhurst Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
(304) 288-4995 or 293-6695
242 S High Street, Morgantown, WV 26501
(304) 292-7029
247 Willey Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-292-7364
Wesley United Methodist Church
503 High Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-292-9485