To access the 2021-2022 Academic Year International Student Ambassador Program Application

#UMKCIEW2020

International Education week is being celebrated across the country.  At UMKC we want to take this opportunity to connect with you and celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide! We know that without these opportunities, UMKC and our global community would not be the same. We strongly believe in the opportunities international education provides as we grow and learn together!

We hope you’ll join us for some of our events (check back for updates for Zoom links!):

Thank you for joining us and thank you for all that you contribute to our UMKC community!

In an effort to abide by  social distancing recommendations, ISAO will be cancelling walk-in transcript review time until further notice.

Should you need to submit official documents in order to have your provisional hold lifted, you will need to email Alison Eaton at eatona@umkc.edu to determine an appropriate plan of action.

Take care,

International Student Affairs team

Due to the ever-changing environment on and off campus due to social distancing restrictions, ISAO continues to work diligently in our timely service to our students. However, we expect some delays in our ability to process physical documents, including the receipt of mail and shipping of admission packets or other requested materials, such as updated I-20s.

If you are able to submit digital documents for any required admission materials, please do so, as it will ensure more timely processing. If you are able to submit copies of your academic documents for the purposes of an admission decision, you will be able to submit your officials at a later date.

For current students: Our advising team is making every effort to adjust processes and methods of advising, whether it be through email, zoom or over the phone. Please check your UMKC email regularly. All updates from Advising will be communicated through email and we encourage you to reach out to us by email or phone to limit your movement throughout the Kansas City area. Additionally, we encourage you to send documents digitally whenever possible and we will accept digital signatures on ISAO request forms. Please remember your I-20, I-765, or other government documents require a physical written signature.

We appreciate your patience and wish you well as we make every attempt to keep our students, faculty, staff and overall community healthy.

Sincerely,

The International Student Affairs team

ISAO is excited to announce the details of our upcoming events in our February Series: Employment in the United States!

Our next events are OPT Information Sessions and OPT Application Workshops. Each event will be held twice so you may attend whichever works best for your schedule. Please join us on the following dates to learn about OPT and the application process:

• OPT Information Session – Thursday, February 13 @ 3:00 – 4:00 pm in Miller-Nichols Learning Center 351
• OPT Application Workshop – Friday, February 14 @ 11:00 am – 12:00 pm in Atterbury Student Success Center 237
• OPT Information Session – Wednesday, February 19 @ 1:00 – 2:00 pm in Miller-Nichols Learning Center 351
• OPT Application Workshop – Thursday, February 27 @ 3:00 – 4:00 pm in Atterbury Student Success Center 237

We hope to see you at these events, and we encourage you to keep watching your email and social media for more events coming soon (including CPT information in March)!

On Friday, July 6th, UMKC tragically lost graduate student Sharath Koppu. We invite you to learn more about Sharath, his life and his impact on our community, as well as a message from UMKC Chancellor, C. Mauli Agrawal below.

Remembering Sharath Koppu (1993-2018)

Computer science graduate student

The university community is mourning the loss of one its own, Sharath Koppu, who fell victim to violence on July 6.

A native of Hyderabad, India, Koppu joined UMKC in the spring of 2018 as a computer science graduate student. According to friends and faculty, Koppu was an excellent student with vast knowledge in his field and was always willing to lend his expertise to help his peers understand core academic concepts. Read more >

Letter from Chancellor Agrawal

Dear Students:

I want to give you my personal assurance that the University of Missouri-Kansas City is a very safe place to pursue an outstanding education, for domestic and international students alike

I understand your concern. The tragic death of Sharath Koppu has affected us all. But it is important to remember that Sharath was in no way targeted for his ethnicity. Unfortunately, violent street crime is a fact of life in most large cities around the world – a risk that is real, but one that can be minimized by taking prudent steps.

As you know, I too have lived the experience of leaving a familiar country behind to pursue an education here in this great land of opportunity. I have felt both the excitement, and the anxiety, that this transition evokes.

But like the vast majority of international students who come to America, my journey has been a successful and rewarding one. It can be for you as well. We must hold our memories of Sharath close to our hearts, but we cannot let this incident become a barrier to realizing our dreams.

Sincerely,

C. Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D.
Chancellor

Julie Myer

Role at ISAO: Admissions for School of Computing and Engineering

What attracted you to work in ISAO?

I lived abroad for 11 years and have traveled to several countries. The hospitality and kindness shown to me in those countries made me want to be in a role where I could pay back all of that kindness by welcoming visitors to my home country. It’s also very exciting to work with and help people from all over world— learning about each unique culture and individual and also learning how very similar we all are at heart.

What’s your favorite part of your job in ISAO?

I enjoy having a tiny part in helping students create a better future for themselves through education, and I love the team in our office that I see every day.

How would some of your closest friends or family describe you?

TALKATIVE! And probably over-dramatic.

What are some things you value? And why?

Of course my family and friends. I’ve lived away from my family so much that my friends have filled a lot of family roles over the years; but family is always family, and they are always there no matter how long I live apart from them. I also value my faith and my church family. It’s like a compass for me. It grounds me. It guides me. It supports and encourages me. It reminds me to keep working toward the right goals.

Looking back at the past couple of weeks or months, what was something that recently fascinated/inspired you?

At this time of year, I am inspired by students who have worked hard and overcome difficult obstacles to get an education and to come to Kansas City. I’m especially inspired by the ones who come here with no friends or family here and have very few others (or even no others) from their home country to help them adjust and get settled in this new environment and education system.

Are you interested in serving UMKC as a resource for new International students?  If so, we would love to have you apply to be an International Student Ambassador for the 2018-2019 Academic Year.

Benefits of being an Ambassador:

Receive a Scholarship

Leadership Opportunities

Team Building Experiences

Help recruit new students

Plan fun activities for current students

View the 2018-2019 International Student Ambassador Application, remember it needs to be typed and submitted by the February 26, 2018 deadline!