Opportunity or Outcast? Navigating Risks and Threats of Life as an International Student at U.S. Universities

This case captures the new and persistent stressors faced by international students navigating U.S. institutions of higher education. Currently, measures attacking international student visas and enrollment are being used across the U.S. higher education landscape. Reports of specific attacks on international students by ICE and the revocation of student visas are manifold. These new threats only exacerbate well-documented stressors international students face, including financial stressors, cultural adjustment, and social isolation. The case narrative and accompanying background and teaching activities highlight the complex issues these students face as members of a university community. Students in higher education and educational leadership programs can explore these dynamics through many perspectives to identify the leadership actions of various stakeholders that might ameliorate issues faced by this community.