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Bessy Bennellick Director of Study Abroad Saint Vincent College February 3, 2013 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: BEST PRACTICES FOR RECRUITMENT, ADMISSION, AND INTEGRATION

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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

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INTEGRATING STUDENTS INTO CAMPUS LIFE Orientation & Student Affairs Support from: residence life, student affairs, dining services Academic Support from Faculty, academic advisors & registrars office Students role in campus integration

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RESIDENCE LIFE & DINING SERVICES Reach out to residence life early Consider dietary needs of students from other cultures Roommates Resident hall staff

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INTERNATIONAL STUDENT ORIENTATION Airport pickup Two or three day orientation program Set the tone Pragmatic, academic, & social

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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

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OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Study Abroad peer advisor Foreign Language tutor Classroom presentations Culture fairs

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ACADEMIC INTEGRATION Involve faculty advisors in orientation Sample lecture during orientation Discuss student-advisor role during orientation Feedback from faculty during the semester

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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

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STUDENTS 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

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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 : ACADEMICS U.S. academic system Cultural foundations Daily operations Decentralization Teachers role Students role Teacher-student relations Student-student relations What happens in classes What happens outside of classes The educational bureaucracy A summary Challenging aspects Special concerns

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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?

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QUESTIONS?