GVSU, 西 密歇根科技人才 partner to promote hiring international students

University experts and business leaders advocated 为 hiring more international students during an event February 21 hosted jointly by Grand Valley and 西 密歇根科技人才.

About 80 people attended the "Demystifying the Visa Hiring Process: A Guide to Hiring International Students" panel discussion held at the DeVos Center 为 Interprofessional Health on GVSU's Health Campus.

Theodore Jones, senior director of talent initiatives 为 全球底特律, makes it his business to connect international students with Michigan organizations and businesses. 琼斯说 there are more than 33,500 international students at Michigan colleges and universities. 

"These are extremely motivated individuals who would be a great addition to any company," 琼斯说, adding that 50 percent of all international students studying in the U.S. 都在STEM领域.

Twenty years ago, Anthony Chang, founder and CEO of BAMF Health in Grand Rapids, was among those students, leaving Taiwan to study at Yale University. He now leads the cutting-edge cancer diagnostic and treatment center located on Michigan Avenue.

"International students have the motivation, the skills, the dedication to their work," Chang said. "To pack up everything and go to a school by themselves is not an easy 决定. This is a group of people who figure things out and are excellent problem solvers." 

Andres Ortiz-Estevez, coordinator of international student services 为 the Padnos International Center, explained how international students can stay 为 up to three years and work 为 同一家公司. Students studying in the U.S. F-1签证可以 apply 为 Curricular Practical Training (CPT) to participate in internships, co-ops or similar experiences 为 one year then apply 为 Optional Practical Training (OPT) in their field of study 为 又过了两年.

After three years, the process becomes more difficult. Susan Im, immigration attorney at ImLaw, said students and their employer apply 为 H-1B Visa status, which enters the student into a 联邦彩票. Last year, Im said, there were 800,000 H-1B applicants 为 85,000 spots.

Stella Michael, director of digital services 为 Corewell Health, urged employers to advocate 为 hiring international students and used her workplace as an example.

"We want our organizations to reflect the demographics of the community," Michael said. “有一个 shortage of nurses and a leaking pipeline. 我们有宏伟的目标 make Grand Rapids a tech hub. International students have the drive, the passion and the commitment to excellence."

Kate Stoetzner, executive director of the Padnos International Center, said there is an initiative in 西 Michigan to develop an organization that replicates Global Detroit. 西 密歇根科技人才 leaders said leveraging the talents of international students is a key step in the creation of greater Grand Rapids as a prominent tech hub.