Juulke Zanders, a field hockey player from the Netherlands, smiles in her A-UD class with other international students.

Embracing international student-athletes

Article by Kaitlyn Diehl Photos by Kathy F. Atkinson and Mikey Reeves October 27, 2026

International student-athletes thrive both on the field and in the classroom with additional support from UD Athletics and the English Language Institute's Accelerate U-Delaware program

The first year of college is both exciting and daunting. Adjusting to university life is hard enough, but what if you had to start college in a new country? What if classes were not taught in your native language? What if you had to navigate campus culture and American culture? And to top it all off, what if you had to hit the ground running on a high-level sports team?

At the University of Delaware, the answers to those questions can be found through the English Language Institute’s (ELI) Accelerate U-Delaware (A-UD) program, a unique initiative that provides additional cultural and academic support to help international student-athletes thrive in the classroom and in their sport.

The A-UD program provides additional academic and advising support to international students during their first semester of their first year. Students take smaller classes and work closely with Julie Lopez, A-UD advisor and academic programs coordinator, who understands the specific challenges of learning and integrating into a new culture.

“I am able to more closely monitor how students are adjusting to life in and outside the classroom because our class sections are small,” Lopez said. “The professors share attendance, quarterly progress reports and concerns with me so I can be proactive when needs arise. I also make a point of seeing the students I advise in the hallways at our building and invite them to share about how they are adjusting to life on campus.”

From the Netherlands to the University of Delaware

For Juulke Zanders, a field hockey player from the Netherlands, the program has made her adjustment to the U.S. a little easier. Zanders liked UD’s medium size and that she didn’t have to pick a major right away.

Despite knowing that UD was the right fit for her, transitioning to the U.S. was still challenging.

Zanders (left) works on a project in class with other A-UD students.

“When I got here, nothing was like back home,” Zanders said. “I needed to adjust to everything: my daily schedule, the places, the environment and the people. I knew no one. We also needed to start preseason right away. It was a lot at the same time, and I think that was the hardest part.”

A-UD’s smaller class sizes have also made it easier for Zanders to connect with international peers from China, Japan and other countries.

“It makes me feel more comfortable to be with students going through the same experience, and I enjoy being exposed to different cultures,” said Zanders.

Athletics support academics

Zanders’ academics aren’t supported only through the A-UD program; UD Athletics helps athletes balance success on the field and in the classroom through mandatory study halls and specialized academic advising.

Athletic academic advisors help students select classes that fit their practice schedule and meet with athletes weekly to monitor grades and progress in each class. They also track students’ National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility, which requires certain GPA benchmarks, credits taken and passed and progress toward a degree.

Bridget Burger, academic advisor and the assistant director for student services for athletes, reflected on the value of these meetings.

“Having that touchpoint frequently gives the student an opportunity to express any concerns they are having in classes,” she said. “From there, we can put a plan in place to create a more in-depth organizational system to stay on top of assignments or scheduling tutoring.”

A bright future ahead

Zanders is looking forward to finishing this season strong and growing academically and athletically over the next four years.

“For this year, the goal is to get an at-large bid. Next year, we're going to be in a new conference (the Mid-American Conference), so I’d like to do really well in that. Over these next four years, I’d like to play better and accomplish something with our team,” Zanders said.

“International athletes like Juulke enrich both the classroom and team experience for their classmates and teammates,” said Lopez. “They come to the U.S. with often different skills and perspectives that their culture has cultivated in them, providing us with the opportunity to learn from them.”