by Thomas Germain (tgermain@gwu.edu)

As international student enrollment continues to increase every year, higher education institutions in America are continuously challenged to design initiatives and programs to support this student population. With more than 4,000 international students enrolled, the George Washington University has risen to this challenge. Within the Center for Student Engagement (CSE), the Community Support and Leadership (CSL) team aims to support international students through advising, orientation sessions, and community building efforts.

In 2017, after an in-depth analysis of market basket institutions and a review of GW international student assessment data, the CSL team found two key issues reported by students:

1. International students experienced integration issues very early in their first semester, and
2. International students continuously had challenges engaging in a meaningful and intentional way with domestic students.

To address these concerns, the CSL team developed International Connections. Launched in the fall of 2017, International Connections focuses on supporting international students in their transition to the University and Washington D.C. and providing meaningful opportunities for domestic students and international student to interact.

About International Connections

The mission of International Connections is to build community and develop relationships between domestic and international students at GW and to assist international students in their transition to their new living and academic environment. The mission of International Connections is met by:

• Developing and offering educational programs to the campus community to enhance positive interactions between domestic and international students
• Providing opportunities for international and domestic students to practice what was taught and learned during the program in a safe environment
• Supporting international students in their adjustment to their host country’s educational system and culture
• Contributing to the institutional mission in educating globalized citizens by providing knowledge and experience to each student in a cultural exchange where learning is mutual
• Connecting international students to the institution and the greater Washington D.C. area

International Connections is led by 12 student guides, organized into pairs of one domestic student and one international student. Each pair is responsible for designing an International Connections Learning Lab, scheduled during the first six weeks of the fall semester as research shows this timeframe is pivotal for students. Additionally, each pair is also responsible to organize an outing related to the theme covered in the Labs throughout the academic year.

After gathering input from our student guides, the following topics and schedule were created:

• Week 1: Life at GW, helping students to navigate life at Foggy Bottom and Mount Vernon campuses
• Week 2: Navigating the GW Academic Experience, helping students learn about academic culture, general expectations, and resources on campus
• Week 3: Getting Involved at GW, learning about involvement opportunities at GW
• Week 4: DC: Life in America's Capital, learning how to make the best of your DC experience
• Week 5: Uniquely American, getting a better understanding of American culture and how to best experience it
• Week 6: Your GW Experience, reflection and sharing stories about challenges and successes from the first 6 weeks at GW

Assessment

After the International Connections inaugural semester, the CSL team analyzed the data collected from the labs’ participants. Questions specifically assessed elements of students’ experiences which contribute to their retention that aligns with the charge of the Center for Student Engagement. These include building a connection to the University; building a connection to Washington, D.C.; building a connection with domestic students; level of comfort navigating academic resources; and overall transition to GW. As the data has been analyzed, it has provided information that will help refine strategies for international students campus transition and  domestic-international students’ relationship building.

Below are the assessment results from the 2017 Fall Semester:

References

Open Doors Fast Facts (2017). Open Door Report, Retrieved from https://www.iie.org/Research-and-Insights/Open-Doors/Fact-Sheets-and-Infographics/Fast-Facts

Bista, K., & Foster, C. (2011). Issues of International Student Retention in American Higher Education. International Journal of Research & Review, 7(2).