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History

The International Student Programs and Services Office (ISPaSO) was established in 2019. The history of international students at Principia College began much earlier than that, though: from the beginning of the college, really. As the population of international students at Principia continued to grow over the decades, and as the legal landscape within which international students in the U.S. operate grew more complex, ISPaSO was established to provide and foster a coherent vision for – and approach to – international student programming at Principia College across sectors and at all points of student experience, from recruitment to post-graduation.

The Name: Say ISPaSO, think espacio

ISPaSO is the acronym for the International Student Programs and Services Office. But it is way more than that to us. When we say it, we are reminded of the Spanish and Portuguese words for “space,” which we associate with ideas of freedom, safety, and growth.

Mission

To live, work, and study in the United States as an international student can be adventurous and exciting in many ways. Most international students, however, recognize the sacrifice that comes with leaving one’s home country, leaving what is familiar and venturing into an unknown environment. Culture shock, language barriers, homesickness, and racial discrimination are some of the challenges that international students may face in the U.S. In collaboration with other stakeholders, ISPaSO works to support international students through these challenges. More importantly, however, we work to make the adventures, the risks, and the sacrifices of being an international student worth it! Our mission, therefore, is to promote the career success of international students, with a special focus on career success in home countries. Our definition of career success includes employment in for-profit organizations, employment in non-/not-for-profit organizations, startup development and business ownership, and public service.

Vision

To prepare students as agents of progress across the world

ISPaSO Core Principles

Core Principle #1: An international student is a complete and complex person, whose experience and environment can form and inform the center of a program

We are unapologetic about developing programs and initiatives from the perspective of international students. Besides potentially studying in a new educational system and switching to a new everyday language and culture, international students operate within a regulatory environment that significantly shapes their opportunities within the United States. As such, their college journey is fundamentally different from that of a domestic student. We therefore don’t define “international” as “non-domestic.” At ISPaSO, we would not describe an international student as a non-domestic student any more than we would describe an orange as a non-coconut. With this paradigm, we avoid the temptation to use experiences of domestic students as the bar/guide for what an international student experience ought to be. We honor the difference in the journeys and proceed to program for international students informed by their context, holistically. It is our view that, in a truly inclusive environment, programs designed primarily for international students can inform and inspire college-wide programs.

Core Principle #2: To be an international student is a courageous undertaking that usually involves sacrifice

We are unapologetic about developing programs and initiatives from the perspective of international students. Besides potentially studying in a new educational system and switching to a new everyday language and culture, international students operate within a regulatory environment that significantly shapes their opportunities within the United States. As such, their college journey is fundamentally different from that of a domestic student. We therefore don’t define “international” as “non-domestic.” At ISPaSO, we would not describe an international student as a non-domestic student any more than we would describe an orange as a non-coconut. With this paradigm, we avoid the temptation to use experiences of domestic students as the bar/guide for what an international student experience ought to be. We honor the difference in the journeys and proceed to program for international students informed by their context, holistically. It is our view that, in a truly inclusive environment, programs designed primarily for international students can inform and inspire college-wide programs.
To live, work, and study in the United States as an international student can be adventurous and exciting in many ways. Most international students, however, recognize the sacrifice that comes with leaving one’s home country, leaving what is familiar and venturing into an unknown environment. Culture shock, language barriers, homesickness, and racial discrimination are some of the challenges that international students may face in the United States. We endeavor to support international students through these challenges. However, we do not attempt to replace what international students have sacrificed to be here. While we endeavor to provide a reasonably comfortable experience, our most important work is to help international students realize the goals and visions for which they have undertaken this courageous journey.

Core Principle #3: Principia’s history places the institution in a position of leadership, and therefore a position of responsibility, in the international student programming field in the United States

From the very beginning, Principia has been serving international students, guided by a mission that defies national boundaries. Enrollment of international students at Principia College is not revenue-driven; it is inspired by a vision of education that recognizes omnipotent potential in all students and seeks to realize it “for the betterment of humanity.” Principia is consistently ranked highly among national liberal arts colleges with the highest proportions of international students. Principia stands out in the national landscape with an unusually high proportion of African and Latin-American students. The rich history, the high proportion of international students, and the atypical demographics place Principia in a special position among international student programs in the United States.

Programs

ISPaSO’s programming is obsessively student-centered and stubbornly maintains a stance that international students have original – not derivative – lives and identities. As such, our view of what an excellent international student experience should be is not based on what a “traditional” student experience is expected to be. As the complete and complex people that international students necessarily are, they form the location, the center, from which ISPaSO develops programs. 
Our programs include:

ISPaSO Website & Live Chat

The ISPaSO website has been updated with more information, and easier navigation for students in 2023. We have also included a live chat functionality that allows students to interact with ISPaSO to ask quick questions from anywhere. During Café hours, the chat is live. When we don’t have a staff member available to respond immediately, students can leave a message and someone will respond to them as soon as possible.. 

New Students Success Series

During the first five weeks of the semester, ISPaSO holds weekly 1-hour sessions with the new cohort of international students to cover a variety of topics. Dubbed ISPaSO Success Series, these onboarding sessions are designed to place new international students on even firmer ground. Unlike during Pr-Orientation and Welcome Week where students are learning about what their experience is likely to be in theory, the Success Series program happens in the context of new students experiencing studies, work, and life at Principia, making the information provided much more relevant and sometimes immediately applicable. In addition to pre-determined topics, these sessions serve as a touchpoint where students can bring any questions or seek support in any area.

Space Shuttle

Principia College is located in an area (Elsah) that is outside public transport systems. For students without access to a car, it is easy to feel stuck on campus, which is located about a 20-minute drive from the closest grocery store. The college is essentially on an island and ISPaSO’s Space Shuttle serves as the ferry to the mainland. The service is open to all students and employees and is designed to drop off and pick up passengers at strategic locations that give them access to other transport services to reach their desired destinations. Specifically for international students, the Space Shuttle is a way of exploring other parts of the United States, potentially building connections with people and places outside Principia, and gaining confidence with navigating life off-campus.

Prin & Bills

Prin & Bills is a budgeting tool designed with international students in mind. It helps the user estimate their earnings and expenses during a certain period and gives them a breakdown of their monthly finances (projected income, expenses, and balances). The tool also calculates their estimated PrinBill based on their financial aid package, current tuition/room/board costs, fees, international tax, Break House rent, etc. Based on their estimated total PrinBill, their monthly balances (income minus expenses), and their selected “pay by” date, the tool also generates a proposed PrinBill payment plan. This tool helps students plan their finances with confidence to minimize PrinBill anxiety. It also gives them a clear picture of their financial situation, which they can use to advocate for themselves with clarity when seeking financial support. 

NEST

NEST is ISPaSO’s strategy for this decade to intentionally and progressively promote career success among international students. In the context of a highly restrictive employment environment for international students in the United States, our focus is career success in home countries; it involves development of employability skills and tools as well as facilitating participation in professional experiences. We also develop initiatives to promote exposure to and engagement with career networks for international students.

NEST Café Hours

Every weekday from 4pm to 6pm, students can come by ISPaSO to discuss a variety of topics related to career development. We pick a theme each week to guide the discussions, but students are free to bring any topics/questions. Students don’t have to be there for all 2 hours. They can come and go at any time during Café hours. Although discussion/consultancy occurs during NEST Café hours, students are also free to use the space to work on their own things, such as updating their CVs, LinkedIn profiles etc. Tea, coffee, and hot chocolate are available along with snacks.

ISPaSO Services

ISPaSO serves admitted, new, and returning international students. We also provide support services to recent graduates. Some of our services are direct – such as provision of visa application paperwork – and others are through empowerment of other departments with information that enhances their service-delivery to international students. Our services can be classified into three key categories:
  • Enrollment, orientation, and onboarding of new international students
  • SEVP/SEVIS services and compliance
  • General student support

Enrollment, orientation, and onboarding of new international students

As soon as an international student is admitted, ISPaSO supports them through the process of enrolling at Principia College. For those who are outside the U.S., this typically includes applying for a student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. If the admitted student is enrolling at Principia from a U.S. institution, the process involves transferring their SEVIS record to Principia. We provide students with the information and documents required to successfully complete either process. In addition to visa-related information, we also advise students regarding traveling to Principia.

International students arrive before the beginning of the semester for orientation activities. We organize rides to pick them up from the airport. Before they arrive, we furnish their rooms with room essentials, such as toiletries, beddings, desk lamps, etc. After the arrival period, new international students begin their Pre-Orientation activities. During this period, students get necessary information and tools to prepare them for success in the United States. Activities include applying for a social security number, applying for a U.S. bank account, and registering in Glacier (a non-resident alien tax compliance system). They also learn about the education culture in the U.S. and how elements of it might be experienced at Principia. New international students also get an opportunity to consider how their time at Principia can prepare them for career success. Pre-Orientation also includes a trip to St. Louis where students learn how to use public transportation. The program is designed as a combination of short lectures, group discussions, and hands-on activities.

Immediately after Pre-Orientation, students get a few days of “self-orientation.” This is a period without any scheduled programs, designed to allow students time to rest from Pre-Orientation activities and also seek out the things that are most important to them. Long walks around the campus, student employment, meeting current students staying on campus for break, appointments with a coach or a professor – these are some of the activities that students individually undertake during self-orientation. It is also an opportunity for them to make uninterrupted calls home at times that make sense for them, depending on time-zone differences. Immediately following self-orientation is Welcome Week, after which the semester begins.

During the first five weeks of the semester, ISPaSO holds weekly 1-hour sessions with the new cohort of international students to cover a variety of topics. Dubbed ISPaSO Success Series, these onboarding sessions are designed to place new international students on even firmer ground. Unlike during Pr-Orientation and Welcome Week where students are learning about what their experience is likely to be in theory, the Success Series program happens in the context of new students experiencing studies, work, and life at Principia, making the information provided much more relevant and sometimes immediately applicable. In addition to pre-determined topics, these sessions serve as a touchpoint where students can bring any questions or seek support in any area.

SEVP/SEVIS Services and Compliance

Enrollment of international students is regulated by several government agencies, primarily the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) administers the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). To enroll international students on an F-1 visa, the college must be SEVP-certified and must remain in compliance with relevant regulations to maintain certification. The college prepares and submits a petition for recertification every 2-3 years. Some of the compliance expectations include providing specific reports and undertaking certain activities within the college’s SEVIS portal. To remain in compliance, ISPaSO provides guidance to students as well as other sectors of the college on matters that pertain to enrollment and work authorization for international students. We also provide guidance on re-entry into the U.S. for international students traveling outside the United States.

For students intending to engage in off-campus employment, ISPaSO provides guidance on work authorization to help students maintain their status. ISPaSO reviews and approves as appropriate requests for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and provides recommendations in SEVIS for eligible students applying for Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Get Involved

There is no “about us” without you. Everything we do relies on the support, prayers, and goodwill of friends of international students, friends like you. Learn more about ISPaSO’s work
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