Columbia College to begin hosting international students this spring

Columbia College recently announced that it will begin hosting international students in the upcoming spring semester.

The international students will be on an F-1 nonimmigrant visa, which will allow them to pursue an AS or AA degree at the college. They will be required to be enrolled in a minimum of 12 units per semester, while maintaining satisfactory academic progress.

“We welcome the opportunity to make international connections and develop new relationships,” Mary Watts, program specialist for career and international services at the college, said. “Our students, faculty, staff and community will benefit from exposure to diverse cultural backgrounds, customs, and traditions as we share with students from around the world.”

If the international students wish to work, they will only be approved for on-campus employment their first year. Off-campus employment will be permitted after the students’ first year, as long as it is related to the student’s major and is approved by a designated school official at the college.

Getting the approval to host international students at the college has been a long process.

In 2019, Vice President of Student Services Melissa Raby petitioned for the college to have certification to host F-1 nonimmigrant students through the Student Exchange and Visitor Program (SEVP).

The site visit took place last year, before the college was approved this year.

“It has been my goal to start an international program at Columbia College since I started here, and I am pleased to see it is finally happening,” Raby said.

Columbia College President Lena Tran said having international students on campus “will bring deeply expansive, personally enriching experiences to our students through the opportunity to enjoy contact with rich cultures and traditions.”

“It will be an exciting adventure for all involved — an inspiring encounter that will enhance the college through priceless transformative learning experiences that will profoundly impact us individually and as a learning community,” Tran said.

More information about the program can be found on the college’s website at www. gocolumbia. edu/ international. For questions, contact ccinternational@yosemite.edu or (209) 5885234.