The International Experience
Accounts of International Students’ Tenure at SLU
St. Lawrence University’s international students often encounter challenges when transitioning to campus life. The school has over 2,000 undergraduate students from 59 countries and focuses on maintaining a diverse student body from around the world. The university, however, has extensive resources, dedicated support staff and a welcoming student culture, which play a key role in helping international students successfully acclimate.
“It definitely takes a little bit of an adjustment. So, it’s not necessarily an easy transition. You have to kind of understand St. Lawrence culture, what St. Lawrence is,” said Tsewang Lama, the Director of International Student Services at SLU. Despite this challenge, Lama believes that international students are prepared to succeed when they arrive at SLU.
Hassan Madkour ’25, a student from Egypt, faced challenges when he first arrived at SLU. English was his second language, and he was unfamiliar with the university’s culture. “A very important skill is to be able to adapt and be open to new cultures and be able to listen to different perspectives without judging them or picking a side on something,” said Madkour, attributing this mindset to his success in making meaningful connections.
Phillipe Chapleau ’25, a student from Quebec, Canada, faced challenges with English also as his second language. “Being on the hockey team helped a lot, just to make some friends real quickly,” said Chapleau. He also found that spending time with his teammates around campus helped him adjust to SLU’s culture.
Jodi Canfield, the Associate Dean for Student Life and community standards at SLU, believes international students can thrive by getting involved in clubs, groups and organizations. “We want to make sure that our international students become engaged. We know that homesickness can be a thing,” said Canfield. She also believes that international students can overcome homesickness by having shared experiences with both their international and American peers.
Lama believes that international students add significant value to the campus through their involvement in extracurricular activities, volunteering, and community advocacy. However, this advocacy can sometimes create an “us vs. them” dynamic between international and domestic students. “I think they expect their domestic peers and others to be activists and social justice-minded and care about the world, but I think you have to kind of meet people where they are,” Lama suggested.
Despite the challenges faced by international students on campus, SLU provides resources and opportunities that help them thrive both during their time at the university and after graduation. International students also build strong relationships with both their international and domestic peers, showcasing the diverse culture on campus. Both Chapleau and Madkour believe their experiences at SLU have been unique and could not have been found in their home countries.