This year 89 international students need the proper documentation to attend DePauw and due to two staff resignations they are struggling with the University’s lack of designated school officials.
International Students require a variety of special documents in order to study in the United States. One of those documents is the I-20 form, a legal document that guarantees the enrollment of foreign students.
When students enter the USA for the first time as a student, they require the initial I-20 form upon program acceptance. After that, students can receive a new I-20 form from their designated school official (DSO) under certain circumstances and need it signed from the DSO before leaving the United States.
DePauw previously had two DSOs: former director of international students Aliza Frame and Hattie Blair. They were authorized to sign Visas, but both resigned this same year.
It turns out that multiple international students did not even know about the lack of DSOs, including junior Shuto Araki.
“I had never thought about it, to be honest. But when I think about it, the fact that nobody can sign my I-20 makes me feel a little bit uneasy,” Araki said. “Personally, I got a signature at the end of last semester and the signature will be valid for a year, so it’s not that important for me so far. Also, I’m not planning to go back home for another year, so I’ll be fine as long as somebody gets hired for the position.”
If any international students run into circumstances which require them to sign an I-20 form, they will unable to do so because of DePauw’s lack of DSOs.
The University hired a fresh graduate from DePauw class of 2018, Sarah Pearson, as the interim coordinator for the International Student Services. Pearson took charge of the office and managed the international student orientation as her first task as intertim coordinator; however, she is not authorized by the government to sign I-20’s for the students.
Pearson was unsure about how the University is addressing the Visa issue.
“I do not know how the University is looking into the matter. I am not involved in the process,” Pearson said.
In the meantime, international students can contact the Center for Diversity and Inclusion for help.
“We have hired a new staff member, Yoana Sayili, as the coordinator for ISS and she will join us next week,” said Dean of Students Myrna Hernandez.
Once she begins her role, she can start to get the necessary certification to sigh I-20’s, but until then, international students await a DSO who can sign Visas for them.
