The Office of International Education works to ensure that the thousands of international students who call UTA home have the support they need.
The office supports the university by developing and implementing internationalization initiatives that support the university’s strategic plan, providing content knowledge expertise and specialized services, leading study abroad programs and enhancing campus internationalization and cultural competency development.
When coming to the university, international students have to navigate a myriad of changes. One is keeping up with their immigration status.
The International Student Scholar Services helps international students by providing immigration advice and ensures compliance from the university and the international student population is maintained, said Austin Perry, director of the services. The service provides a digital hub with essential information for students, including:
- Housing resources
- Immigration advising (F-1 and J-1 students)
- Employment and Social Security information
- Travel guidance
- State ID and driver’s license procedures
- Tax help
- Health care and insurance
Another key department within the office is Global Engagement.
The department advances the university’s strategic priorities by supporting international student success, fostering intercultural learning and creating meaningful opportunities for students to engage across cultures, said Magdalena Ibarra, program assistant director for Global Engagement, in an email. Services offered by the department include:
Global Grounds
Come and go, weekly coffee and chai networking event from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday in the Bluebonnet Ballroom.
International Student Orientation
Provides international students with a introduction to the university and covers an array of topics including cultural adjustment, immigration regulations, employment, campus resources, academic regulations, class registration, health services and health insurance.
Cultural Exchange Program
The free program promotes intercultural dialogue and exchange. Participants are paired and provided with the resources to have engaging conversations on culture, language and the UTA experience.
International Week
As the largest annual celebration of culture at UTA, the event features student organization activities such as the International Food Fair, fashion show, international exhibits, global extravaganza and a variety of cultural learning activities.
International Career Week
Each spring, a week-long initiative, including workshops, presentations and events helps prepare students for the job and internship search.
MavsConnect
Launched in spring 2026, the program serves as a central hub for international and cultural programming by promoting events, fostering collaboration, creating resources, providing accessible engagement opportunities and capturing student feedback to inform institutional priorities, Ibarra said.
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