Michelle Norton
Staff Writer
Relief for University of Houston international students affected by the Asian economic crisis has finally arrived.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and the United States Information Agency have designed the Special Student Relief Program to help certain international students earn tuition money.
According to the provisions, students whose financial support comes from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand are qualified for full-time employment on or off campus.
In addition, qualified undergraduate students can decrease their course load to six hours a semester, and graduates can lower theirs to three semester hours.
Under present provisions, international students must maintain full-time status and are only allowed to work part-time - less than 20 hours a week - on campus.
Anita Gaines, director of the International Student and Scholar Services Office, believes the program will help students earn money they desperately need.
"Affected students who otherwise would not be able to continue their studies here may be benefited by this program," she wrote in a July 29 memo.
The economic crisis affecting international students started last July, when Thailand devalued its currency against the U.S. dollar. The move essentially triggered a Southeast Asian crisis affecting Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, South Korea and Thailand.
Economic consultant Kurt Shuler believes the Southeast Asian crisis was the result of competition from China and Japan.
He wrote in November, "In low value-added goods, such as textiles, China is displacing the Southeast Asian countries. In high value-added goods, such as automobiles, Southeast Asia faces renewed competition from Japan."
Shuler argued the biggest step Southeast Asia could take toward ending the crisis is adjusting its currency to account for changes in competition from other countries - advice that has not yet been taken, leaving many students counting every penny of their tuition.
"My parents have to save up to send money for education," international Yenni Khioe told the Cougar in the spring. "Since the economic hardship, the value of the rupiah (Indonesian currency) is devaluating, and earning money in Asia is much harder."
Before the creation of the new program, international students relied upon the leniency of the university. "We have a number of students from Asia on campus whose parents are no longer able to provide them any
support," said Thomas DeGregori, a UH economics professor, last semester. Universities tried scholarships, deferred payments and relaxed the rules governing part-time employment of international students.
Despite the promise of financial assistance, there are several limitations to the program. Students eligible for the program are only allowed to work for one year or upon completion of their studies, for example.
Even if they are eligible, they may be denied authorization because of departmental semester requirements, financial aid or scholarships.
Students interested in financial assistance who have not yet been contacted are advised to make an appointment Aug. 13 between 1 and 5 p.m. in Room 309, Student Service Center. Students unable to attend can call the ISSO at (713) 743-5065.