Crisis, Compliance, and Care: Institutional Belonging and International Student Mobility in U.S. Higher Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:45 am - Gold 1
  In Roundtable Session: Division J Section 6: Roundtable 2

Abstract

This paper explores how U.S. higher education institutions’ crisis responses shape international students’ mobility and institutional belonging. Drawing on Sense of Belonging Theory and AsianCrit, it examines institutional communications, policies, and student narratives across three recent crises: COVID-19 disruptions, campus protest enforcement, and geopolitical visa restrictions. Using critical discourse analysis, this paper introduces the Belonging–Response Matrix, mapping institutional actions along care–compliance and inclusion–exclusion axes. Findings reveal how compliance-driven responses erode trust, while proactive outreach, cross-unit coordination, and culturally responsive care foster belonging even within federal constraints. The study provides actionable tools for integrated, culturally aware practices, positioning crisis governance as a key mechanism for advancing equitable internationalization and institutional accountability during periods of global uncertainty.

Authors

• Haishan Yang, University of Southern California

• Sanfeng Miao, Michigan State University