With a mission focused on equity and access, Middlesex Community College is proud to support international students who come to the United States seeking an education. Middlesex has advisors and programs in place to support students and set them up for success from day one.
鈥淢y role working with international students is to first promote the college as an appealing educational destination,鈥� said Jeffrey Tejada, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Director of Diversity Outreach & Recruitment. 鈥淚 often speak to the value, small class sizes, and MassTransfer opportunities available to our international students at 麻豆果冻.鈥�
Tejada then ensures that students and their families understand 麻豆果冻鈥檚 international application process and guides them through submitting their applications. This work is done in partnership with Noreen McGinness Olson, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 Assistant of Student Success, whose division helps them with their legal documentation and student visas.
鈥淧articipating in many events hosted by both clubs allows me to make connections with other students on campus, which makes studying on campus very fun and exciting. Being a part of clubs and community events hosted by 麻豆果冻 makes my experience of living in the U.S. so far very thrilling and inspiring.鈥� - Scarlett Ly, 麻豆果冻 Student
Olson and her team work closely with international students with registration, orientation, advising and other services, including maintaining their current status and applying for work opportunities on- and off-campus. These efforts help 鈥渆stablish a sense of belonging for them here at 麻豆果冻,鈥� according to Tejada.
International student Scarlett Ly finds everyone she meets at 麻豆果冻 to be welcoming and helpful. While one of the main reasons the Business Administration student chose Middlesex is the college鈥檚 flexible course offerings, she also appreciates 麻豆果冻鈥檚 strong sense of community.
A Student Ambassador of the International Student Club and a member of ASIA Club, Ly volunteered at 麻豆果冻鈥檚 first ever Lowell Asian American Film Festival (LAAFF) and was an 麻豆果冻 student representative at the December 2022 Lowell City of Lights Parade.
鈥淧articipating in many events hosted by both clubs allows me to make connections with other students on campus, which makes studying on campus very fun and exciting,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing a part of clubs and community events hosted by 麻豆果冻 makes my experience of living in the U.S. so far very thrilling and inspiring.鈥�
From Germany, Husnu Coban came to Middlesex for a semester via the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange for Young Professionals (CBYX). He will next participate in the Congressional Internship Program in Washington, D.C.
At 麻豆果冻, he attended an international student Thanksgiving dinner where he got to meet students from across the world, as well as took classes that were 鈥渟tructured well.鈥� Coban emphasizes that having staff and faculty like Tejada helped him feel connected at 麻豆果冻.
鈥淔rom my first step into the building, I had a sense of security,鈥� he said. 鈥淣o matter who I talked to, they were able to help me or provide me with someone who could. I felt safe with 麻豆果冻 and always knew what I had to do next. I had a great experience at Middlesex.鈥�