Leaders from ASU student governments said they seek to support international students while giving them a voice in how the University runs.
According to data published by the University, international students made up almost 10% of the total enrollment at ASU in the Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 semesters. The international student population is around 17,900 students from over 165 countries.
They are also important parts of the University's student governments, according to officers from those bodies.
Officers from three of ASU's four undergraduate student governments, as well as Graduate Student Government, said they seek to include international students in their operations.
Undergraduate Student Government Downtown did not respond to a request for comment about international student representation in the organization.
Shreya is the student body president of the Undergraduate Student Government Polytechnic, a sophomore studying financial technology and an international student.
"I feel like I have been very amazingly represented, and I have taken up that job in my hands to represent international students," Shreya said.
GSG Chief of Staff Tharun Goud Dasugari, an international graduate student studying management of technology, said there are no barriers to international students serving in GSG.
Goud Dasugari praised GSG for its inclusion of international students. He said when people ask who he is, they want to know his name and what he's studying.
"They've never asked about my race, culture, ethnicity," Goud Dasugari said.
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He also said GSG simply cares about their officers fulfilling the qualifications to run.
Joshua Cole, the student body president of the Undergraduate Student Government West Valley and a junior studying applied computing, said international students serve at all levels of USGWV and "are a key to decision-making, not just in our government, but campus-wide."
He said USGWV's broader goal is to embed inclusion into its processes and get international students "the representation they need."
"Their inclusion — international students — and their decision-making makes for a stronger university, ensuring international students have a seat at the table," Cole said. "It's not just good representation within student government, it's essential to building a campus that reflects ASU's commitment to inclusion."
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Goud Dasugari said international students most often raise concerns about healthcare and legal support. GSG regularly promotes the resources provided by the Dean of Students Office for help with finances or advocacy.
Shreya said international students, particularly in graduate programs, experience difficulties finding housing. USGP works with the International Students and Scholars Center using WhatsApp group chats and webinars to help them access housing.
USGWV also works with the ISSC, Cole said. While issues like visa access are handled by the University administration, Cole said the student government works to elevate international students' concerns and ensure culturally sensitive programming.
Rishik Chaudhary, the student body president of the Undergraduate Student Government Tempe and a senior studying supply chain management and business, said he works closely with international student organizations, particularly to appropriate funds for cultural events.
Chaudhary said he tries to take members of USG-T to events like CultureFest to immerse themselves in different cultures.
"We'll always try to go show our support for different clubs and organizations that are there," Chaudhary said.
Beyond funding and visibility, Chaudhary said international students often raise more personal concerns to USG-T. Among the most common challenges is finding a sense of belonging.
"I think fitting in is very difficult," Chaudhary said. "That's something that a lot of international students talk about: how to find friends and how to find groups that they're able to connect with."
He said USG does a good job connecting students with clubs and organizations where they can build community, aligning with ASU's broader goal of helping students find a sense of home on campus.
As student government election season approaches, Cole emphasized the importance of international students getting involved. USG encourages international students to take part in campus leadership.
"We're pushing out that information, getting students to run, be involved, advocate for themselves in government," Cole said. "International students are 100% included in that space."
Edited by Carsten Oyer, Jack McCarthy, Emilio Alvarado and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at swang496@asu.edu.
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