The world studies at UC

UC International and its partners across campus piloted a comprehensive new professional development program this spring for staff and faculty who work with international students.

“This came from a lot of different places,” explains Ron Cushing, director of International Services in the UC International Office. “Over the years, our office and other university offices have provided pieces of training to faculty and staff who have asked for them.” Recurring requests have varied from training on visa and immigration regulations to help with classroom communication skills or pronouncing Chinese or Arabic names. “Clearly, there’s been a consistent need for a program that addresses several different areas when it comes to hosting international students.”

Cushing and his staff and volunteers from student services offices throughout UC have developed The World Studies Here to meet that need.

The University of Cincinnati’s population of international students has increased rapidly in the last 10 years. Critically, it includes many more young students than ever before, as the number of international undergraduates at UC has doubled.

“We’re seeing a lot more 18-year-olds struggling with the stresses of being far from home, coming up against the cultural and social differences of the American classroom—what their cultures have taught them about being a college student, and how that changes when they get here.” Cushing’s goal is to strengthen the support network across campus for those students so that they don’t reach the point of mental or physical distress.

Cushing also wants to make sure that accurate information gets to those international students about immigration or visa issues that affect their study or travel or work plans.

There are three workshop tracks: one for faculty and educators, a second for academic advisors and other staff who work with international students and a third on pronouncing names. The faculty and staff workshops cover topics like immigration basics, cross-cultural communication skills, classroom strategies and best advising practices.

The advisor track program was recently piloted with the undergraduate advisors from the College of Engineering & Applied Sciences. The workshop was customized for them to include a focus on co-op and work-related regulations.

The faculty workshop focuses on identifying, assessing, and meeting the needs of international students and on exploring pedagogical approaches to clarify expectations with them, prevent plagiarism and miscommunication and communicate empathy and respect.

The World Studies Here planners are reaching out to the deans, the Faculty Senate, and the organizers of the annual UC Advising Conference to provide further training opportunities. Their goal is to build strong connections with the colleges and to address specific needs of different staff units and the students they serve. Looking toward the future, they are also developing an online component for the training.