AWC has plan for international students amid coronavirus

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - Even though the semester is over, international students may not be able to return to their home countries due to the travel restrictions.

The Arizona Western College (AWC) has a plan to assist with housing and other needs for those students who are forced to stay.

LaToya Howell, Director of Housing at AWC, says she had individual meeting with each student to help with living accommodations if they were unable to go back home due to travel bans.

"We only had about 15% of our residents still there. So, we, you know, kept the dorms open," said Howell. "We wanted to make sure, you know, their needs were met."

Aybuke Keehn, Director of International Student Programs said a majority of students went home when school transitioned to remote learning in March, but it wasn't easy to travel during that time. In some cases, it took students three days to get home after layovers were factored in.

The dorms closed on May 15 when the semester ended; however, there were other options for these students.

Linda Obare from Ghana is an international student who stayed in Yuma.

Obare was assisted with finding an apartment in the area and was given a job opportunity on campus to help pay for rent.

"She helped us with jobs too. So, we now work, um, on campus," said Obare Yeah, we work every Monday through Thursday on campus."

She says because of the staff's assistance, the international students feel like they are home here.

Faculty helped arrange flight plans and even drove students to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Additionally, they provided laptops to those who didn't have one.

"If I ever send my child to another country for studies, for whatever purpose, I hope my child is treated to same way they are treated here at Arizona Western College," said Keehn.