‘We’re not being taken seriously’: Students left without international student coordinator

Photo of the Wall of Flags in James Dunn Hall. (Credit: STU Communications)

On Sept. 7, the St. Thomas University Students’ Union posted a press release stating that the international student coordinator position has been eliminated for the academic year. 

Along with the international student coordinator position, other positions such as the LGBTQ+ coordinator, student success coach and cultural diversity coordinator have been revoked from student services. 

Carrie Monteith-Levesque, former international student coordinator, went on medical leave in February. Her role was succeeded by Saa Andrew, cultural diversity coordinator, who assumed both his responsibilities and Monteith’s. 

Andrew said he met three weeks ago with Ryan Sullivan, the associate vice-president of enrolment management. 

“[Sullivan] told me ‘I'm sorry, we don't have funding to keep this role.’ I said, ‘Can you say that again?’”

“What about the role of Carrie?,” said Andrew. “What [about the work] Carrie was doing here?”

Andrew said everything “was blank” at the moment. 

“The students are lost right now,” he said. “We have new students who [are] still figuring out how to navigate too.”

“[STU] has [international students] who have been here for one, two years and they already saw how we were growing.” 

“We're not like the way we used to be before. Now, they come and get this news that ‘Hey, we're going back to zero.’ How do you take that?”

Andrew mentioned he was committed to working hard until his last day to ensure his initiatives are planned. He encourages students to take ownership of the international students’ events and programs. 

Andrew will leave campus on Sept. 10. 

Michelle Robinson, president of the St. Thomas University International Student Association (STUISA), said she was shocked when Andrew told her he was leaving the position. 

“It was a shock that it didn't come from the administration, that I had to hear it directly from him,” she said. 

Robinson also said STUISA is heavily dependent on the international office, and Andrew’s departure will impact their events and student support.

“Knowing that students wouldn't have the support that Carrie provided for them makes me feel, as an international student, that we’re not being taken seriously,” said Robinson. 

“As an international student who pays the amount of school fees that we pay, it's devastating to know that the support that we need as students coming from miles away will not be there this year.”