UTA OIE

09/21/2020

Calling all student orgs: OIE would be happy to promote your upcoming events! Just share the information with us here or via email, and we'll help spread the word! 🌍

09/21/2020

Check out some great programs being offered by our friends at the Follett Student Leadership Center! For additional information about these programs, visit uta.edu/leadership !

08/25/2020

Join us for the virtual Mavs Meet convocation tonight!! Where in the world will you be watching from?

#maverickstampede #UTA

07/07/2020

Please read the following UTA statement on changes to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations.

Please read the following UTA statement on changes to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations.

05/21/2020

The Arlington Salvation Army has emergency food for anyone who is hungry. Distribution day is every Friday, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Food includes non-perishables, and can be picked up curbside.

Address: 712 W. Abram, Arlington 76013. Pickups will take place at the west side of the building at the grassy circle drive.You do not have to get out of the car, and staff will put the food in your backseat or trunk. If you have questions, you can call 314-882-4972 for more information.

04/22/2020

Here's another story from a student learning to adjust during this pandemic!

By Muhasina

"The COVID-19 pandemic is a life altering experience. It feels like just yesterday that the world was going on at its normal pace and suddenly, here we are. International students, like myself, are separated from their friends, family and loved ones. While I am grateful that I have the comfort of living in an apartment I call home, I cannot help but be heartbroken about the thousands of people who are breathing their last every day. As an international student, life during this pandemic is not easy to say the least. However, the help I have received from UTA in such trying times is commendable. The UTA community has helped international students feel safe and ensured that they are not alone. Narrowing down a bit, for graduate students like myself, I believe our advisors have acted as backbones and done their level best to stand by their students. From allowing students to work from home although it has impacts on the progress of research to engaging them in fun activities in order to ensure sound physical and mental health. I know that the period that we are going through is extremely difficult and unlike anything we have experience. However, we need to believe that “This, too, shall pass”. We need to remain positive and hope for a better tomorrow because there is always light at the end of the tunnel."

04/20/2020

UTA Division of Student Affairs

UTA Division of Student Affairs

Our UTA community, filled with students, faculty and staff are so much stronger together! We appreciate each and everyone of our Mavericks. We are sticking together through these tough times.

Here is one of the many videos (video 1) that we made thanks to the Mavericks around campus! 💙🧡

#UTAStrong #UTARemote The University of Texas at Arlington UTA OIE UT Arlington College of Science

04/17/2020

Thank you to everybody who participated in our first virtual Global Grounds yesterday! We loved seeing your messages and photos!

And special thanks to the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies for hosting with us! To learn more about their programs, visit https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1fq3z3q0T-CY2Pv3deeumHqJmMeNOlEhX8_8Co5KvZnc/viewform?edit_requested=true

04/15/2020

Jane Cloud is a Biology and Exercise Science double major from Meknes, Morocco. She is in the Global Mavericks program and has frequently participates in and volunteers for other OIE programs, including Global Grounds, the Language Exchange Program, and International Peer Advisors. Jane is also involved in the Leadership Honors Program, the Honors College, and the Office of Undergraduate Research. She spoke with us about some of her experiences:

“I chose UTA because of the value the university places on diversity. There are few things I love more than learning about people’s history and their culture and how it impacts them as a person. I remember when I was transitioning to life in the US and how intimidating the culture seemed at times. One of the things that impacted me the most were kind individuals who made me feel welcome and made sure I had the resources I needed to succeed. I want to give back to others and help international students feel at home at UTA. I started volunteering with the Department of Global Engagement because it is all about bringing people together, no matter the differences, and because I am passionate about understanding others and learning from their experiences.

As an international peer advisor, I am placed in a group with other leaders who have the same vision. My favorite thing is getting to know them on a deeper level while welcoming international students to UTA! Global Mavericks on the other hand challenges you to be more open-minded, a thoughtful communicator, and an individual who thinks more deeply about how we each play a role in shaping the world around us. One piece of advice I would give to new students is to take advantage of every opportunity you can. Study hard, but be intentional about developing meaningful friendships and joining organizations you’re passionate about from Day 1. Don’t tell yourself you have time to join later; it’s so much more rewarding to get involved early. I’m excited for you and I hope you have the most amazing time at UTA!”

04/14/2020

Join us for our first ever virtual Global Grounds this Thursday, April 16, from 4:00-5:00 pm (Central Time)! To participate, post a photo or short video of yourself having a cup of tea or coffee at home and tag this account, plus #UTAglobalgrounds . Your post will be an entry for a chance to win one of five $10 Amazon gift cards!

Follow along here and on our @uta.oie Instagram page to see messages from Global Grounds friends at their homes around the world. We also have some things to share from the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, who is our co-host for the week!

We can't wait to virtually see you on Thursday!

04/10/2020

Here's another contest entry from a UTA student learning to study and work remotely in Seattle! Remember to share your story with us at [email protected] by April 20 for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

By Zainab from Karachi, Pakistan:

"I have been working from home, which currently for me is Seattle. I feel like this is a very tough time for the international students, because at this point not only are we stuck in a place where we just live as students but can not even return back to our countries because some of them are under lockdown. We came to the US to study, work and get experience but amidst the four walls and teams/zoom that is not fully experienced to its utmost possibility. We are far away from friends here, back home and from our families. And so, despite all these cons, we need to be stronger than ever and emerge more successful from this time. Rather than being sad or stressed. Walk, run or take a hike- nature is your best source of not only relaxing and lessening your stress but overall health. So make use of this time, talk to your family and friends via phone and work on yourself. Here are pictures of my pastimes these days, running by the water and hiking."

04/07/2020

We miss seeing you all on campus, and we would like to stay connected during this time! Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing students' stories about their hometowns or life changes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

These photos and stories have been submitted by UTA students for an OIE contest. Five lucky winners will be selected to win a $50 Amazon gift card, and winners will be announced on April 22. Additional details were emailed to all current UTA international students on Friday, April 3. To enter, or for additional information, email [email protected]

Here is one of the stories we've received so far:

By Anica from Kroonstad:

"People hate Kroonstad at first, before they learn to love it. It is a small town in the middle of South Africa, in the countryside surrounded by all kinds of farms ranging from corn farms, cattle farms, to lion farms. There is no hustle or bustle, and the most traffic you will get is a 10-minute delay to get from one side of town to the other. Instead of fast-food restaurants on every corner, we have little shops with home-baked goods made by anyone that loves baking. Freshly baked scones, cakes, cookies, and bread are everywhere. At every robot (which is what we call a traffic light), someone will try to sell you some fresh fruit, African art, or the daily newspaper. No one is in a rush to get anywhere, and no one is frustrated from sitting in traffic. This might explain why every single person in town is so friendly. Everyone knows everyone, and probably everyone’s parents and grandparents as well. It is the type of town where you can expect to be warmly welcomed with a basket of cookies from your neighbors if you are new to town, and you can be sure to be invited to MANY barbecues. In fact, people from Kroonstad take their barbecues so seriously that they already had a lockdown barbecue where everyone lit their fires at the same time from their own home to show their spirits won’t be crushed by a pandemic. People might find the town boring at first, but it makes you appreciate and enjoy the simple things. Entertainment options are limited so you have to settle for going for a bike ride with friends, take a walk around the neighborhood, or have a picnic next to the river and enjoy the warm South African sun."

04/02/2020

UTA | Office of International Education

A special message for our international students and scholars, from the Office of International Education (OIE):

Dear International Students and Scholars,

This is a stressful and confusing time for everyone, and it’s difficult to make decisions and plan for the future amidst confusion and quickly-changing policies. The Office of International Education cares about your well-being and health, and we are here to provide support and resources for you. Please let us know what you need from us.

It is troublesome that some scammers are taking advantage of these circumstances to spread false information to you. Some of you received a fake email from someone named "Michael Mack" who claimed to work for OIE. This email is 100% false and should be deleted immediately. Official communication from our office will be posted on our website (uta.edu/oie), or it will come via email from [email protected]. If you have any questions, you can contact us at [email protected] too. You should also take a look at uta.edu/security for guidelines on how to identify a potential scam. If you receive an email that looks suspicious, DO NOT respond or help spread false information by sharing it with your friends. Report the email immediately to [email protected] and OIE [email protected].

Life is changing for us all as we are taking precautions to slow the spread of COVID-19, but we understand that you are facing additional challenges and stressors as international students and scholars. OIE offers our utmost compassion and support to you during this time. Adapting to stay at home is challenging enough as it is, and many of you are doing it thousands of miles away from your families and support systems. You’re making the transition to online classes, but also have the added stress of checking in on family and friends, searching for jobs or internships, staying informed about the latest visa and immigration policies, and keeping yourselves healthy and safe.

In closing, we want to thank you for your strength during this time. It takes great resiliency, flexibility, and patience to persevere through all of this, and we congratulate you on keeping up with your studies and supporting each other through this pandemic. As international students and scholars, you contribute so much intelligence, spirit, and uniqueness to the UTA community, and we are grateful that each one of you has chosen to be members of our community. We will all get through this together, and we’ll hopefully see each other back on campus soon.

In the meantime, please reach out to us if you have any questions or need someone to talk to.

03/24/2020

Coronavirus

Have you visited the City of Arlington's coronavirus (COVID-19) website yet? The site is full of helpful resources, including prevention tips, updates from the city, a local closings list, info about Arlington restaurants, and more!

Visit arlingtontx.gov/coronavirus for more information.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a health alert regarding an outbreak of a novel (new) Coronavirus in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, which began in December 2019. The CDC confirmed the first case in the United States on January 21, 2020. The respiratory disease has...

03/19/2020

Dine On Campus

The Office of International Education would like to share a comprehensive list of dining locations on and off-campus that allow you to maintain social distancing. These include options at UTA, free food from the Tri-C/UTA Food Pantry, and an extensive list of Arlington restaurants that offer take-out or delivery.

The Office of International Education is committed to serving our students during this challenging time. We will continue to provide support to our valued international community, including through social media. As the UTA and Arlington community take safety measures to implement social distancing during the COVID-19 outbreak, we understand that your day-to-day lives may change significantly. Please follow our Facebook and Instagram pages to stay connected with each other and learn about resources that will help you during these challenging times.

1. UTA dining
Currently, Connection Café, the Market at University Center, and Subway are available for takeaway dining. You can also pre-order from the UC Market by filling out this pre-order form: https://dineoncampus.com/utarlington/market-preorder

For the most up to date information about dining services available on campus, visit dineoncampus.com/utarlington

2. Food Bank
The Tri-C/UTA Food Pantry will be distributing pre-made bags of groceries for those who need them. To receive your grocery bag, please follow these steps:
A. Send an email to [email protected]
This email must include:
- Student/Faculty/Staff Name
- Last four (4) digits of your UTA ID
- Requested grocery pickup time
- Choice of "vegetarian", "chicken", or "any meat" groceries
B. Pick up at your appointment time.
Appointment times available include: Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 10-11:45 a.m. and 2-4:45 p.m. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].

3. Arlington Foodies
Despite the ordinance for all Arlington restaurants to close dining areas, you can still enjoy some of your local favorites! You can view this spreadsheet to check out which local restaurants are offering pick-up and delivery services:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1kezRfxOjgap7roJ4CL_gXRyjxUNz5imd7leZ3ENTxpM/edit?usp=sharing

You can also follow the Arlington Foodies Page on Facebook for more news about this.

4. Grocery Stores
Most grocery stores are operating regularly, with a few stores operating under reduced hours. If you’re unsure about the hours of a store, check online or call the store to check before you go. Use this time at home as an opportunity to practice some of your cooking skills!

5. Food delivery services
Many of the food delivery apps are offering special deals and discounts. Check out as list of food delivery discount codes here: https://www.cnet.com/news/get-discount-food-delivery-at-home-with-these-coupon-codes-for-ubereats-doordash-grubhub-and-more/

03/17/2020

As the University continues to monitor the Coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, the Tri-C/UTA Food Pantry wants to continue to provide food for those who are experiencing food insecurity. Check out the information below!

03/17/2020

UTA Division of Student Affairs

UTA’s top priority is to protect the health and safety of all of our students, faculty, staff and visitors during this evolving and unusual situation.

It's better to be safe and up to date about the people you can contact. Take a look below!

For more information and updates please visit uta.edu/coronavirus!

#UTACares The University of Texas at Arlington

02/14/2020

We had a great Global Grounds with the Department of Modern Languages yesterday! Thank you to everyone who attended!

Modern Languages students co-hosted Global Grounds with the Office of International Education this week. Each student organization brought Valentine's themed crafts, food, art, and literature from the cultures of their language program. Every booth was creative and engaging!

11/25/2019

Join us for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner tomorrow, November 26, from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm! For additional information, visit uta.edu/thanksgivingdinner