Designing a Comprehensive International Student Orientation, Transition & Retention Program

1. Designing a Comprehensive International Student Orientation, Transition & Retention Program Brett Bruner, Director of First Year Experience/Persistence & Retention Karen McCullough, Assistant Director of International Student Services Isaac Ortega, Graduate Assistant for International Student Services/ Graduate Intern for Extended Orientation & Transition Initiatives Fort Hays State University NODA: Association for Orientation, Transition & Retention in Higher Education 2015 Region IV Conference | St. Louis, MO

2. Overview of Session • Learning Outcomes • Introduction of Presenters & Institution • Key Terminology Sharing • Sharing of the FHSU Experience • International Student Orientation • International Student Transition • International Student Retention • Successes & Challenges – Moving Forward • Application to Your Campus

3. Learning Outcomes As a result of attending this educational session, participants will: • Identify 1 new strategy to enhance an existing or develop a new international student orientation, transition and/or retention program • Identify 1 campus partner to assist in a comprehensive international OTR plan • Articulate 1 national challenge of international student retention as identified by NAFSA: Association of International Educators’ (2014) Retention Study

4. Division of Student Affairs: Student Life ClusterFort Hays State University

5. A Snapshot of the International Student Population Fort Hays State University • 360 students from 35 countries • ESL – 89 Total on-campus enrollment: • Undergraduate – 150 • Graduate – 121 • China – 231; Saudi Arabia – 49; Paraguay – 10

6. Why are You Here?

7. Key Terminology Sharing • Orientation: deliberate programmatic & service efforts designed to facilitate the transition of new students to the institution; prepare students for the institution’s educational opportunities & student responsibilities; initiate the integration of new students into the intellectual, cultural & social climate of the institution; & support the parents, partners, guardians, & children of the new student. Source:NODA Task Force to Explore the Definition of Orientation, Transition & Retention (2012)

8. Key Terminology Sharing • Transition: the process students go through (typically lasting up to 1 year) when entering a particular institution of higher education and/or entering the same institution for a new purpose. This may include, but is not limited to, entering a college as a first-year student, transferring to a college from a different institution, and/or entering a college or university for a subsequent degree. Successful transition results in student integration into the institution & ultimately retention and/or achievement of personal educational objectives. Source:NODA Task Force to Explore the Definition of Orientation, Transition & Retention (2012)

9. Key Terminology Sharing • Retention: student progression through higher education, focusing primarily on student persistence (i.e. term to term) through the beginning of the 2nd year at the same institution, with the goal being graduation from that institution and/or achievement of personal educational objectives. Retention is 1 outcome/measure/byproduct of successful student transition, which can be facilitated by effective orientation programs & other academic & social integration processes. Source:NODA Task Force to Explore the Definition of Orientation, Transition & Retention (2012)

10. International Students – Pre-Arrival & Orientation • Understand your international students to understand what support they need • Who are the international students on your campus? • Have they traveled abroad before? Or studied in the US before? • What language abilities do they posses? • Did they apply on their own or work with a recruiter? • Support international students typically need before they come to campus: • Process on applying for a visa • Housing options on-campus & in community • Health requirements for students on-campus • Travel & Arrival Information

11. Improving Pre-Arrival Communications What are we doing right? Where can we improve? • Focus groups held during orientation with new students • Partner school/Exchange students, Graduate students, Undergraduate students, ESL students • Create consistency with information provided to different groups of students • Offer students options on how to get information back to us • Scan in & email vs online form • Student Portal access • Remember to keep information concise and to the point. Try not to use institutional speak. Bullets & short sentences are preferred

12. Pre-Arrival Communications • Arrival Checklist • Information about getting visa, student health requirements, preparing to travel & mandatory orientation • Tasks with due dates for students to complete before they arrive • Confirm receipt of I-20 & pre-arrival packet (email) • Activate Student Portal • Reserve On-Campus Housing (student portal or email form) • Complete Required Student Health Forms (student portal) • Send travel information & reserve spot on Charter Bus to campus--fall orientation only (email form) • College Week Live Webinars • Future – Online Orientation Modules with option to upload documents into modules

13. Language Screening • All international students screened for language by Director of ESL – regardless of passing language score submission • Screening is part of orientation –have offered opportunities for screening in-country as part of academic bridge program • Score on screening drives Academic Advising & Class Schedule • Graduates students – concurrent language enrollment • Undergraduate students – “all in” ESL

14. Orientation • Five to Seven day Orientation • Assistance with University ID card, Housing Contract, Student Health Forms & TB Tests • Sessions on: Immigration, Academic Honesty, Gender-Based Violence, Health & Wellness, Alcohol Awareness, Safety & UPD, Healthy Living & Insurance Information, Traditional Orientation Events, Shopping in US, Involvement at FHSU, Living with a Roommate, Tour of Campus • Community Partnerships • Downtown District, Chamber of Commerce, Community Connections, Cell Phone Providers, Banks • Tours • City of Hays, Regional Airport, Campus, Library, Kelly Center (Counseling & Academic Support Services), Intramural & Swimming Pool Facilities

15. Creating Relationships & Traditions Dance Party & Karaoke Night – Sponsored by FYE Dinner & Games with Residential Life

16. Creating Relationships & Traditions FHSU President at Orientation Trash Pickup Service Project

17. Involvement in Traditional Orientation Activities Core2Campus Playfair Football Game

18. Continuing Orientation – International Seminar Course • Course designed by faculty, advisors, graduate school, ISS office • 8 week, zero credit/zero cost, pass/fail course • Required for all new int’l Graduate students • Encouraged for all undergraduate students • Taught by ISS staff and graduate assistants • Fall 2014 enrollment – 100 international students

19. International Student Transition • “Every time an individual changes roles or experiences a transition, the potential for feeling marginal arises.” – Schlossberg • “The larger the difference between the former role and the new role the more marginal the person may feel” – Schlossberg

20. Transition Programs for International Students • International Student Union • Meetings • Programs • International Education Week • Trips • International Speakers Bureau • Tiger Reach • Community Connections

21. International Student Union • Organization of International AND domestic students working to promote intercultural exchange. • Weekly Meetings • Programs • Trips

22. Weekly Meetings (ISU) • Discuss • Helps students feel heard • Ex. Superbowl commercials • Plan • Helps students feel depended on • Ex. International Education Week • Socialize • Helps student feel connected • Ex. Icebreakers, gamenight

23. Programs • Host a program focused on a specific piece of culture • Thanksgiving Around the World • Focused on thanksgiving/harvest celebrations from around the world. • Countries represented in ISU were represented at this event. • Student Driven

24. Giving Thanks Around the World

25. International Education Week • A week nationally recognized to celebrate international education and the exchange of world views. • Involved ISU members • Split into groups and discussed an issue to focus on and plan a program around it. • Gave them a voice, provided purpose

26. International Education Week

27. Trips • Connect students to cultural opportunities. • Give students an opportunity to explore and not feel trapped. • Used to build connections and create friendships.

28. Trips

29. International Speakers Bureau • Presented opportunities for schools to bring students into classrooms. • Students • felt more connected to the community • Loved meeting the kids • Loved sharing pieces of their culture

30. ISB

31. Tiger Reach • Partnership with Center for Civic Leadership’s Global Leadership Project • Domestic students are paired with International Students • Help international students feel more connected

32. Community Connections • An off campus organization that provides programs for international students • Helps students connect to the community

33. Community Connections

34. NAFSA: Association for International Educators (2014) Retention Study • Disconnect between reasons cited by international students leaving & U.S. higher education institutions • Higher education institutions cited the following reasons for attrition: • School reputation • Finances • Academics • International students cited the following reasons for attrition: • Access to jobs or internships • Affordability • Availability of scholarships

35. NAFSA: Association for International Educators (2014) Retention Study • Student underestimation of preparedness to academically succeed in the U.S. classroom • Higher education underestimation of importance of affordability & career information “Most schools have career services but they’re not adapting enough to the needs & complexities of international students for example, by training them on how to interview for a job.” “Institutions are much more investing on recruitment than on retention & services for international students.”

36. International Student Retention • Dropped Student Surveys • Why are your students leaving? • Demographical studies • TigerIQ early alert warning intervention system • International responder role = Assistant Director of International Student Services

37. Successes & Challenges – Moving Forward • Collaboration is Key! • Take an opportunity to step outside your comfort area (domestic or international) • Moving Forward in 2015-2016 • Renaming of International Student Orientation • Development of new student leadership position for domestic students: International Student Orientation Leaders • Continued socialization activities and pride/tradition-building into OTR • Family engagement with spouses through International Spouse Orientation Resource Fair (GA for Family & Transfer Engagement – FYE Office)

38. Designing a Comprehensive International Student Orientation, Transition & Retention Program Brett Bruner, Director of First Year Experience/Persistence & Retention blbruner@fhsu.edu Karen McCullough, Assistant Director of International Student Services kmccullo@fhsu.edu Isaac Ortega, Graduate Assistant for International Student Services/ Graduate Intern for Extended Orientation & Transition Initiatives ijortega@fhsu.edu Fort Hays State University