An Exploration Into the Grief Experiences of International College Students
Disciplines
Educational Leadership
Abstract (300 words maximum)
International student attrition is a rising concern in higher education given the various challenges that have arisen over the past couple of years (Donohue et.al, 2021). The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial justice movements, and the current social political climate have significantly impacted our college students like never before (Borgstrom & Mallon, 2022). Of growing concern is the rising mental health crisis that is sweeping through higher education which deserves an urgent response, especially for international students navigating unfamiliar academic and cultural terrains (Lee et al., 2021). International students are currently facing dire financial constraints, food and housing insecurity, and many other challenges that further complicate their college experiences (Duke et al., 2021). For incoming international freshman students, their college transitions are considerably different from traditional students. Specifically, international students’ college transitions are muddied from their various high school experiences in other countries, assimilation difficulties, and living sometimes hundreds of miles away from home. Further, the grief, loss, and trauma experienced by these first-year international college students during the pandemic warrant special attention as we contemplate the resources and support required for their successful matriculation and degree completion (Sirrine et al., 2021). The lingering remnants of grief and trauma from the global pandemic continue to impact the college experiences of international students and their ability to successfully navigate their academic and professional goals. Hence, through a qualitative research design, our research explores the lived experiences of international college students in navigating grief and loss. The goal of this research is to provide an opportunity to explore and identify strategies for better supporting international students as they navigate the complexities of their academic journey, fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment that promotes their academic and personal growth.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
BCOE - Educational Leadership
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Dr. Chinasa Elue
An Exploration Into the Grief Experiences of International College Students
International student attrition is a rising concern in higher education given the various challenges that have arisen over the past couple of years (Donohue et.al, 2021). The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial justice movements, and the current social political climate have significantly impacted our college students like never before (Borgstrom & Mallon, 2022). Of growing concern is the rising mental health crisis that is sweeping through higher education which deserves an urgent response, especially for international students navigating unfamiliar academic and cultural terrains (Lee et al., 2021). International students are currently facing dire financial constraints, food and housing insecurity, and many other challenges that further complicate their college experiences (Duke et al., 2021). For incoming international freshman students, their college transitions are considerably different from traditional students. Specifically, international students’ college transitions are muddied from their various high school experiences in other countries, assimilation difficulties, and living sometimes hundreds of miles away from home. Further, the grief, loss, and trauma experienced by these first-year international college students during the pandemic warrant special attention as we contemplate the resources and support required for their successful matriculation and degree completion (Sirrine et al., 2021). The lingering remnants of grief and trauma from the global pandemic continue to impact the college experiences of international students and their ability to successfully navigate their academic and professional goals. Hence, through a qualitative research design, our research explores the lived experiences of international college students in navigating grief and loss. The goal of this research is to provide an opportunity to explore and identify strategies for better supporting international students as they navigate the complexities of their academic journey, fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment that promotes their academic and personal growth.