Holidays are one of the many ways to connect to communities through cultural practices and community building. But for international students, these holidays are often stripped away completely by a new environment. U.S. holiday practices and campus closures can unintentionally deepen cultural disconnect and social isolation among international students.
Ithaca College and other universities must ensure inclusive policies for holidays in order to reduce isolation, improve retention and the overall wellbeing of international students.
Holidays can often trigger homesickness for many students, even those who are in the same country as their parents. Holidays are cultural rituals that are often tied to family, food and identity. Distance can remove access to those rituals, causing stress and a sense of isolation.
The Center for Collegiate Mental Health found in their study on international students that they are more likely to feel socially isolated than their peers. Holidays are found as peak moments for isolation for anyone.
Campus almost completely shuts down over breaks, leaving students who choose to stay with very few options for not only activities, but meals as well. Not only are international students distant from their cultural connections, but they have to live in a depressing environment.
Ithaca is already known for its dreary weather; an empty campus and homesickness on top of the weather just exacerbate the lifeless environment these students are supposed to be celebrating in.
Cornell University has good examples of institutional programming, such as their Celebration of Gratitude dinner on Thanksgiving Day. Though there is an obvious difference between the number of international students each institution has, Cornell provides a model of what IC can do for its students.
Though Cornell is not the only option for international students to spend their Thanksgiving. There are many different gatherings throughout the Ithaca area that are open for international students, including Thanksgiving dinner at Taughannock Falls, and even some Ithaca locals opening their doors for anyone to join.
IC’s Office of International Student Programs does provide some holiday support and events for its students, like the open closet for Halloween costumes. Though this does help international students feel more stable, IC can provide more for international students to truly feel at home. Holiday host programs, where faculty and staff are assigned international students, community meals and target outreach are all concrete ways for IC to help their international students feel connected to the holiday season.
