Schools Work to Accommodate Saudi Students

Angela Januzzi

August 16, 2007 

Two years after the Saudi government began its scholarship program for its nation’s students, there has been an influx of thousands of Saudis to American colleges and universities. 

In response, schools across the country are striving to retain the Saudi students as best they can. Colorado University, for example, trained over 700 staff on Middle Eastern culture, education, and cross-cultural understanding. In Indiana, a “Train the Trainers” workshop was held recently, subsequently sending the diversity trainers who attended back to their fifteen institutions across the state. Those trainers then dispensed the strategies, about how to acclimate campuses to an influx of Middle Eastern culture, to their respective schools. 

However, problems still arise inevitably when dealing with a surge in 10,000 Saudi students over the past two years. Schools eager to accommodate those students must also reorganize their English-As-Second-Language programs. Some students become frustrated with their lack of English knowledge, and leave or withdraw to attend technical school instead. Saudi students are also spending most of their time with other Saudis, rather than assimilating to socializing with their American peers. Also, many feel they’re only being met with “average” treatment, somewhat lacking in enthusiasm and patience, from teaching assistants and tutors. 

As the Saudi population will only continue to increase in schools, at least in the near-future, campuses must be aware of these challenges. 

Source: Redden, Elizabeth. “Supporting Saudi Students.” www.insidehighered.com. Posted: August 16, 2007.