Since the startling death of a doctoral student, the University is making an effort to reach out to international and graduate students.

Yongsheng Li, a 29-year-old student from China, was missing for 16 days before his body was found in a pond behind the Women’s Softball Complex on South Milledge Avenue.

Since then, to aid the nearly 1,200 international students at the University, the International Student Life Office created a support group.

“We thought as an office, we needed to be there for the international community after this tragedy in any way we could,” said Carey Kirk, a graduate assistant in the International Student Life Office.

The group met on March 30 and will continue to meet depending on students’ needs, said Leigh Poole, associate director of International Student Life.

A good mix of students and community members attended the first meeting, Poole said.

Staff from the University Health Center’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services also are performing outreach, said Alan Campbell, an associate dean of student support.

Counselors met with students and faculty in Li’s academic department to help them deal with the loss, Campbell said.

University Housing has been working closely with Meiyao Wang, Li’s widow, who is not a University student, to allow her time to process her loss while continuing to reside in their family housing unit, Campbell said.

Campbell also offers the assistance of his office to help the family with any University-related issues they may have.

“It’s a tragedy for the University community and the student’s family when a student dies,” he said.

In the past, staff from Campbell’s office has helped families claim students’ belongings, help pack students’ dorm rooms and work with financial aid.

He also notifies the University community of the student’s death to ensure the family does not receive any mail addressed to the student. Receiving the deceased’s mail can be hurtful to the family, he said.

Li’s widow is hosting a private memorial service for Li with family and friends Saturday.

A benefit fund was set up in Li’s name to help raise money for his cremation and repatriation expenses as well as for his family here and in China, wrote David Puett, Li’s professor, in an e-mail.

University Police still are investigating Li’s death. Preliminary autopsy reports were inconclusive and police now are waiting on toxicology results.

When Li’s widow first reported his disappearance, she gave police a note her husband wrote in his native language.

The note has not been very helpful in the investigation, University Police Chief Jimmy Williamson said.

“It can lead you in two different directions,” he said.

Just like the English language, Chinese has many words which have different meanings, and it is necessary to hear them spoken to determine their meaning, he said.

However, police do not suspect foul play was involved in Li’s death.