The document summarizes a presentation about a Meet/Greet project at Western Michigan University aimed at integrating and including international students on campus. The project involved having representatives from different academic departments meet with international students to answer questions about classes and programs. Planning involved reserving space, creating a budget, and marketing the event. Challenges included lower attendance than expected and ensuring student interaction with representatives. Suggested improvements were soliciting feedback, targeting specific programs, and having personal outreach to students. The presentation concluded with discussing other schools' efforts to include international students and challenges they face.

1. The Integration and Inclusion of International
Students on Campus
MITESOL 2015
Michigan State University
October 9-10, 2015
Beth Ernst, Christie Gates, and
Sally Thelen
Western Michigan University

2. Overview
• Introduction
• International Student Statistics and Research
• Goals of the Meet/Greet Project
• Planning, Logistics, and Budget
• Marketing
• Events
• Challenges
• Improvements for Future
• Whole Group Discussion
• Evaluation

3. Introduction
• International Student Enrollment
– Facts and Figures
– Trends
• Who we are
• CELCIS Program
– Six level IEP
– No TOEFL to matriculate
• Student-inspired event

4. To the
University
From CELCIS

5. • Campus administrators and leaders believe that
“international students add diversity to a mostly
homogeneous campus, but evidence that diversity
contributes to the development of intercultural learning
among U.S. students is relatively thin”(Glass, Wongtrirat
and Buus, 2015 pg. 2).

6. Goals of the Meet/Greet Project
• Create connections between CELCIS students, advisors,
professors, and students in departments across campus.
• Support ongoing and long-term international student
engagement and inclusion (social networking, student
organizations, etc.)
• Give CELCIS students an opportunity to ask questions
about their upcoming academic programs
– How do I register for classes?
– How do I meet other students in my program?

7. Planning, Logistics, and Budget
• Room reservation for 80-90 people
• 1 round table for each department representative
• Budget: $670
– Catering
– Advertising
– Nametags
• Student worker compiled list of majors, contact info
for advisors

8. Marketing
• Save the Date email sent to department
representatives approx. 1 ½ months beforehand
• Postcard sent to students and department
representatives 3 weeks beforehand
• Classroom visits
• Facebook
• Newsletter

9. Events
• Fall 2014: October 22
– 10 departments
– Student attendees: No data
• Spring 2015: March 19
– 10 departments
– 42 student attendees
• Summer 2015: July 23
– 9 departments
– 29 student attendees

11. Challenges
• Overestimated food and drink quantities
• No representation from some units: How can we get
them involved?
• Some representatives attended but received little
traffic: How can we encourage interaction?
• Gap between classes and event
• Lower level students wanted to attend

12. Improvements for future:
• Need to solicit formal feedback from students and
departments
• Target specific programs
• Consult advising offices before setting date
• Personal invitations from CELCIS Director
• Personally directing students to student service
representatives
• Opened event to Pre-Advanced students
• Sign-in sheets
• Consistent record keeping

13. Questions for Discussion
• What are some ways that your program is integrating
and including international students on your
campus?
• What challenges has your program faced while
attempting to help international students adjust and
integrate?
• What types of programs exist on your campus that
help to make international students feel included?

14. Online Presentation
You can access our presentation online at:
http://tinyurl.com/p8mve4y

15. Session Evaluation
Please complete the session evaluation survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BYZBLDG