What’s Up with WAU International Students – A Quick Peek!
Written by: By Dr. Beulah Manuel, Director for International Student Program
Our Global Learning Community
WAU’s diverse campus has students from 45 different countries from around the world who come from five continents: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America and South America. The campus environment that our international students foster through their culture, language and global perspectives, makes the university uniquely an “international family.” While pursuing an academic program of study is their primary purpose for coming to the US, our international students are also enthusiastically involved in co-curricular activities, such as, athletics, student associations and clubs, members of orchestra and choir, community service projects, and student ambassadors for the university.
Officials from the Embassy of the Bahamas Visit WAU
Consul Generals Patrick Adderley and Tami Ferguson-Culmer from the Bahamas Consular Annex in DC visited Washington Adventist University campus on September 18, 2023, to explore a working relationship with the university to support our students from the Bahamas. Currently, we have three Bahamian students at WAU.
Our New Location, Service, and Support
The International Student Office has moved to its new location, WH Suite # 408, which provides more space for meetings, advising, and a safe and welcoming environment for student and staff engagement, conversations, and service.
“Global Thinkers” – International Student Club: The 2023-2024 Club Officers have been busy planning activities, events and programs for this academic year. Some of the highlights for fall are: monthly Tea Time, Academic Excellence Awards presentation, International Costume Day and International Food Day, Games and Movie Night, Study & Snack evening, Christmas and Graduating Seniors Celebration to end the semester.
Some Facts and Figures . . .
- 28% of our international students are enrolled in the Graduate/Master’s degree programs and 72% in the undergraduate/Bachelor’s degree program.
- This semester, we have a higher number of students from: India, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Nigeria, UK, Germany, Italy, France and Netherlands.
- Currently, 15 WAU graduates are participating in the Optional Practical Training (OPT) which is work authorization for one year in the United States in the areas of degrees completed; two students were approved for STEM – OPT (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) a three-year work authorization in the STEM Fields. All of our graduates have found employment. This semester, several students are engaged in off-campus internships to gain professional work experience to prepare for employment upon degree completion.
- 53 students (29 under-graduate and 24 graduate) will be receiving their certificates of Academic Excellence for maintaining a GPA of 3.0 and above in 2023 spring.
International Student Voices . . .
“I Iike Washington Adventist University for its Diversity.” (Temo Abram Mothihaapula – BS Biology)
“The Administrators, Professors, Staff and everyone are so kind and helpful. It’s my new family! I love WAU!” (Wilson Vaiphei – MBA)
“People here care about you, and I feel connected, supported and have a sense of belonging.” (Blessy Napod – BA Music Therapy)
“My journey so far with WAU has been full of surprises, intriguing, enlightening, sometimes hilarious and to cap it all up, amazing experiential learning. I am hopeful for a positive ending.” (Abosede Akosile – BS Nursing)
“Here it is a family of professors and staff which makes adapting to life in a foreign country to be somewhat easy.” (Windell Reid – MA Psychology)
“WAU is a place of opportunity. Here I can feel that I am more than a number; they call me by my name.” (Filipe Cioni – BA Business Administration)
“This is Washington Adventist University: Gateway to Global Service.”