International students: Best practices for recruitment, admission, and integration

Bessy Bennellick

Director of Study Abroad

Saint Vincent College

February 3, 2013

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: BEST PRACTICES FOR RECRUITMENT, ADMISSION,

AND INTEGRATION

CORE VALUES OF BENEDICTINISM

• Respect for the unique person & talents of every student

• Hospitality

• Commitment to a concept of community

• Care & concern for each individual

INTEGRATING STUDENTS INTO CAMPUS LIFE

• Orientation & Student Affairs Support from: residence life, student affairs, dining services

• Academic Support from Faculty, academic advisors & registrar’s office

• Students role in campus integration

RESIDENCE LIFE & DINING SERVICES

• Reach out to residence life early

• Consider dietary needs of students from other cultures

• Roommates

• Resident hall staff

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION• Airport pickup

• Two or three day orientation program

• Set the tone

• Pragmatic, academic, & social

EXTENDED ORIENTATION (5 WEEKS): REQUIRED FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & ALL FIRST YEAR STUDENTS

• International Student orientation• Welcome weekend• Residence Life orientation• Club Fair• Campus Life – start a new club• Activity Programming Board• Campus Ministry• Student Government• Service Learning• Social Activities with Student Life• Participate in weekend trips offered by

College• Intramural sports

OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

• Study Abroad peer advisor

• Foreign Language tutor

• Classroom presentations

• Culture fairs

ACADEMIC INTEGRATION

• Involve faculty advisors in orientation

• Sample lecture during orientation

• Discuss student-advisor role during orientation

• Feedback from faculty during the semester

TOPICS DURING ACADEMIC ORIENTATION

• Overview of US higher education

• Teaching methods

• Review sample syllabi

• List expectations in a classroom

• Meeting with students and their

faculty advisor

STUDENT’S ROLE IN CAMPUS INTEGRATION• Be willing to get involved in & out of the

classroom• Be patient and have realistic

expectations• Ask questions• Challenge yourself• Understand culture shock and that it

takes time to adjust to a new culture

RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS

PRE-DEPARTURE ORIENTATION FOR CHINESE STUDENTS

Chapters:

FIRST THINGS FIRST

IMPROVING ENGLISH

ACADEMICS

CULTURE MATTERS

SOCIAL LIFE

HEALTH & SAFETY

RIGHTS & RESPONSIBILITIES

RESOURCES

Sample chapter contents:ACADEMICSU.S. academic systemCultural foundationsDaily operations Decentralization Teacher’s role Student’s role Teacher-student relations Student-student relations What happens in classes What happens outside of classes The educational bureaucracyA summaryChallenging aspectsSpecial concerns

WHEN ISSUES ARISE:

- What do you do when an international student - is performing poorly in class?- is caught plagiarizing?- is unhappy with their living arrangements?- is homesick and/or not adjusting well?

QUESTIONS?