Community colleges seek to welcome international students
Posted on 8/29/2010
Topics: Living in the U.S.
In order for international students to fully benefit from studying in the U.S., they may want to integrate themselves into their local communities. Many American colleges host orientations and promote international student organizations in an effort to help global scholars feel comfortable in their new country.
For example, Northcentral Technical College in Wisconsin runs a program in which 41 families act as mentors for international students and another 19 families host students in their homes, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. If a mentor family is going on a picnic or to a baseball game, they can call Northcentral's international office and invite students to join in.
Bonnie Bissonette, the associate dean of business and international education at Northcentral, said the college also encourages international students to do volunteer work starting at orientation, and these efforts help increase their confidence, according to the news source.
"We use a strong web of support for our students," Bissonette told The Chronicle. "Right away they learn that by volunteering and getting out in the community, it helps them make connections with people."
These programs introduce international learners to American customs, sports, cuisine and culture.
Recent estimates from the Pew Research Center suggest that community colleges enroll close to 44 percent of all U.S. undergraduates. They are some of the most diverse academic institutions in America, enrolling international students who come from more than 95 countries and speak 75 different languages.
For example, Northcentral Technical College in Wisconsin runs a program in which 41 families act as mentors for international students and another 19 families host students in their homes, The Chronicle of Higher Education reports. If a mentor family is going on a picnic or to a baseball game, they can call Northcentral's international office and invite students to join in.
Bonnie Bissonette, the associate dean of business and international education at Northcentral, said the college also encourages international students to do volunteer work starting at orientation, and these efforts help increase their confidence, according to the news source.
"We use a strong web of support for our students," Bissonette told The Chronicle. "Right away they learn that by volunteering and getting out in the community, it helps them make connections with people."
These programs introduce international learners to American customs, sports, cuisine and culture.
Recent estimates from the Pew Research Center suggest that community colleges enroll close to 44 percent of all U.S. undergraduates. They are some of the most diverse academic institutions in America, enrolling international students who come from more than 95 countries and speak 75 different languages.
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