CPaCE News

Before he arrived at CSULB, Chandandeep Thind already had a long list of accomplishments under his belt. Originally from Punjab, India, he had served in his country’s Navy for 15 years, and then began working full-time while earning his bachelor’s degree in his homeland.

Seeking further educational opportunities, he traveled to the United States and earned an associate’s degree from Cerritos Community College in Norwalk, California. From there, he applied to and was accepted at four different CSU campuses as well as two University of California locations. He ultimately chose CSULB for multiple reasons. These included the university’s flexibility in class schedules, affordable tuition, diverse community, safe campus, and more.

“Of course, the weather in Long Beach is the best!” Said Thind. “Also, there are lots of on-campus jobs and research opportunities available for international students.”

Thind began his master’s degree program in Computer Science in August 2018. Since then, in addition to his main academic program, he’s learned to adapt to a foreign culture with the constant help of CSULB’s International Student and Scholar Services (ISS) office. From important travel documents and immigration requirements, to on-campus training and work opportunities, ISS offers comprehensive services to help international students navigate the complexities of studying in another country.

“The whole staff is very helpful, polite, and always ready to help international students at any time,” said Thind of ISS. “Without their support and guidance, it is not possible for us to accomplish our degree.”

The additional demands presented by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as rising political tensions meant that Thind and his fellow international students needed to quickly transition to online classes while their ability to remain in the U.S. was left in an uncertain state.

“In addition to COVID-19, the latest immigration guidance has presented challenges for schools and international students,” said Monica Stamme, International Recruitment Coordinator at CSULB. “But there is hopeful news. Our staff at all levels are strategizing solutions to support international students.“

“In my experience, CSULB faculty has proved that they can teach their pupils with the same spirit and energy—even online,” said Thind. “Moreover, I think COVID-19 has become a catalyst for all educational institutions globally to search for innovative solutions in a relatively short period of time.”

That spirit of innovation has helped Thind thrive despite some of these restrictions on his educational experience. For the past two semesters, he has worked as a Teaching Assistant in his graduate studies classes, earning praise from his students in the process. Thind was recently bestowed with two prestigious honors from CSULB’s Computer Engineering and Computer Science department: the 2020 Outstanding Graduate Student and Outstanding Teaching Associate Awards. He also began a software engineering internship this summer with Tristar Insurance Group, an experience he hopes will help him find full-time work after graduation in December 2020.

“It has been a really a wonderful experience,” Thind said of his time at CSULB. “I never feel that I am on a foreign land due to the love, affection, and cooperation received from my university friends, faculty and staff.”

Click here to learn more about International Student and Scholar Services at CSULB.