Im/Mobilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Perspectives from International Graduate Students Studying in the Southern United States

Abstract

The background of this study is situated within the COVID-19 pandemic as an acute challenge with chronic issues that international graduate students have faced continuously. With the pandemic serving as a critical incident, we highlight the political, systemic, and personal fragilities of international graduate students studying in the southern United States. The methods for our study were informed by a narrative inquiry approach combined with a systematic literature review to connect with the conceptual framework of Avison and Turner’s chronic strains and Robertson’s conception of timescales. The findings highlight three broad themes: shifting immigration policies and travel uncertainty, institutional responses, and mental health stressors and personal concerns. The study conclusions illuminate suggestions for institutions and policymakers, including clarifying policies, communicating better with international graduate students, and providing tailored counseling support. These suggestions are significant for improving international graduate students’ well-being in the face of any acute issues that may arise in the future.